Have you ever endured something and asked God “Why?” only to find the purpose behind it much later? There is a story in the Bible of a man who was born blind, lying on the street when Jesus and His disciples encountered him. There’s not a whole lot of background written about his life, but his story is quite amazing. I want you to imagine for a moment that you are his mother. Put yourself in her shoes, carry her weight, feel her pain as you imagine life with a special needs child.
The looks and stares make you feel like an outcast. You can hear the whispers at the marketplace and their comments cut deep enough leaving scars. As emotionally draining as it is, nothing compares to the day-to-day challenges you both face or the unconditional love you have for that child. He is curious and brave, but limited in more ways than you’d like to admit. You try to stay positive, but your mind begins to trail with sadness for all of the wonderful things he will never be able to experience, like seeing the beauty of a sunset or the look on your face as you smile back at him. Your mama heart just wants to make everything better, but you can’t - it’s out of your control. You stay strong for his sake, but on the inside you are crumbling. The thought of your little boy being held back and left out makes you wonder, “Why him?” “Why was he made with limitations that keep him from being like everyone else?” One difficult day rolls into the next as you start to question, “God, where were You in the womb? You could have easily opened his eyes.”, “ Why would you allow something like this to happen if You are all powerful?” “Do You want to see us struggle like this?”
And then something happens that wrecks you in all the right ways: something that shifts your perspective and makes you realize that God was using your son for something far greater than you could have ever imagined. His life became a testimony that is now recorded for all the world to read in John 9:1-7
“As He (Jesus) passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.”
Could it be that every tiresome day and tear filled night, every bandaged knee, and difficult situation led to this moment? THIS MOMENT where the sovereignty of God would unfold before his very eyes and this life of limitations that once was viewed as punishment was simply being reserved as a PLATFORM FOR GOD’S POWER to be revealed. What an AH-HA moment that must have been to experience. Not only for this blind man, but also for his family and those all around him. His eyes weren’t the only ones that received new sight that day. Can you fathom it? Years of suffering and sincere prayers that weren’t wasted or ignored, but were just leading up to this moment where God’s glory would be made known. That is the beauty of our testimony! From trials to triumph - every time. There is no moment of darkness that will ever overpower the Light.
For some of us, we may never fully understand why God allows us to struggle, but we can trust that He will always use it for our good and His glory. (Romans 8:28 reminds us of that.) And when those situations arise that shake our faith, we have His love and truth to hold on to, like an anchor for our souls that keep us strong against the waves of life. Allow the Holy Spirit to be your strength through this storm and give you perseverance to trust that the things that limit you, may be exactly what God will use to illuminate Himself through you.
Your fellow Able Mom,
April Gordon