“As [Jesus] walked 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?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.” John 9: 1-3

I sure do get how the disciples came up with this question. I think it rings at least a little bit true for each of us, wondering, what did I do that things turned out this way? Jesus tells them that the troubles they have run into allow for God’s works to be revealed. Seems that God’s works could be revealed in a way that maybe didn’t require suffering first. Yet, isn’t that why he sent us Jesus, so that he could then experience an earthly, human life like the rest of us do? It was through the suffering of others that Jesus in his ministry was able to bring healing to the suffering and good news to the poor. But it was also in his humanity that he would ultimately suffer not just with us, but for us too.

When Jesus encountered suffering, he wept, and God weeps with him. What are the ways that we can see God working through us in our suffering? Perhaps our suffering brings us to a better understanding of those experiencing their own suffering and gives us opportunity to be the body of Christ together for the sake of the world. God so often uses the unexpected to bring his healing, redemption, and love to us just as he used the unexpected to bring sight back to the blind man and to bring us salvation through the death and resurrection of his Son. Where do you find the extraordinary in the ordinary?

-Pastor Carrie

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