Tough Times Aren't Always Earned

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” - John 9:1-3

During my quiet time this morning, I was reading this passage from John chapter 9 as I was making my way through a study by Lysa Terkeurst. In response to this passage, she wrote, “We so often want to know why. I know I do. If we can figure out the why then life makes a little bit more sense, especially if there is pain or suffering. Even if we don’t ask, ‘Why?’ out loud, it is usually the first question we ask in our hearts. The disciples were looking for someone to blame for this unfortunate situation. If they could only figure out the reason why, then the hurt of this man would be more tolerable.”

My eyes started to water as I read her words, because I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted the exact same things as the disciples did. I wanted someone or something to blame for my pain, my disappointment, or my unfulfilled desire. I’ve wanted so desperately to figure out the “why” behind my circumstances so that they would be a little easier to live with.

But what if the “why” behind what we’re walking through is simply that God wants His glory to be displayed in our lives?

What if the reason you didn’t get that job is because God’s glory will be better displayed through the job you’ll end up in later on? What if the reason you’re not in a relationship right now is so that God’s glory can be displayed through you ministering to your friends? What if the reason your life doesn’t look the way you thought it would right now is because God’s glory will be better displayed through His plans for you than your plans for you?

I know you want to know the “why” behind your circumstances. Trust me, I get it. I know how much easier it would be if we could blame something or someone, even if that someone was ourselves, so that we could make sense of why life looks the way it does. But we have to remember that less-than-desirable circumstances aren’t always punishment or consequences for our sin, just like the blind man didn’t do anything wrong to be punished with blindness. God created this man, making him born without the ability to see, knowing that years down the road, Jesus would heal this man and display His ultimate glory as our Savior and Messiah.

So don’t discount how God could be wanting to use your circumstances to point other people to Himself. Don’t miss out on glorifying the Lord with what’s right in front of you instead of trying to figure out why your life isn’t lining up with your plans. And don’t forget that just like God used the blind man’s life as a way to display His glory, He is just as capable of using your life for the same thing.