Miracles I Know for Sure

Day 70: 2 Kings 3-8

The story of Elisha surprises me. I remember that he was taunted by some boys for being bald and these boys were then killed by bears, but what I hadn't remembered was how many miracles Elisha did. He raises a young boy back to life, heals a man of leprosy, parts the Jordan, and prophesies...and this is only the beginning! Elijah did numerous miracles, but his protege Elisha did double the miracles that Elijah had done. Wow! (Elisha had asked Elijah for double of his spirit when Elijah was being taken up into heaven, and he received it.)

Miracles.

I've witnessed miracles. The miracle of birth. The miracles of an infant child no longer having organ trouble. The miracle of a changed heart, a new being in Jesus Christ. But I haven't witnessed someone being raised from the dead or a sea of water parting so that people could walk through it.

The difference between the miracles that happened during Old Testament times and those today can be quite striking, but that doesn't mean miracles don't exist (or that God doesn't still use people to perform them). I still believe in miracles. Do you?

Here are a few miracles I know for sure: 
1. Faith is a miracle. The fact that humans look beyond themselves for answers is a miracle. We are invested in ourselves. We are selfish, self-absorbed, and egotistical. And yet, we have faith in God. Faith in the Father, in Jesus and in the Holy Spirit. Faith in Truth. Against our nature, we have faith that God is who He says He is and that He will keep his covenant to us. That is a miracle.

2. Family, friendships, and other relationships, including marriage, are miracles. Anytime that God says "Yes" to a relationship, it is a miracle. Although God made us to live in relationship with one another, it's still a miracle when it happens. Sin often makes it difficult to form relationships with others, and even though God designed us this way, it doesn't often happen. We must work at relationships, at marriage. Surely, good relationships are miracles from God, blessings on us as we seek to live out his will. 

3. Children are miracles. As a mom of two, I have witnessed firsthand the miracle of childbirth. Children come into this world in crazy ways. From conception to pregnancy to birth, the whole thing is pondersome. And it's a miracle that children are born, that they can live and survive and love and forgive. That they are resilient and caring and pure and innocent. Jesus loved children and saw in them the miracle that God created us to be. Remember that we all were children once. We are all miracles.

4. Becoming a Christian is a miracle. Think of it. We are selfish and sinful and yet we are convicted of Truth and seek a different way. We make different choices and we grow in relationship with our Lord. We no longer live for ourselves; instead we live for God and for others. What a miracle. We are going against human nature. What a miracle it is to be in process and to being formed like Christ. 

5. It's a miracle that we can be forgiven and have eternal life. Jesus, the Son of God, coming to earth is a miracle. And that God used him as the ransom for our sins is a miracle. We can now have eternal life and that is another miracle. The whole biblical story is a miracle.

Miracles abound. We just must open our eyes to witness them.

Thank you, God, for miracles. Even today.