But when Jesus heard it, he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’” vs. 4
John 11:1-15
In the Gospel of John, nothing seems to trouble Jesus. Every time a difficult situation came up, e.g. no wine, no bread, no water, paralysis, blindness, fatal illness, he saw it as an opportunity and believed that these were times when the glory of God could be revealed. Many of his servants today have inherited that same disposition. When others see crisis, they see opportunity. We’ve all seen that pattern in folks we know. Some are completely flummoxed by obstacles and act as though the end of the world has come. Others may be momentarily stunned, but quickly adapt to the changing situation and believe that new blessings are just around the corner. For them every job loss, broken relationship, illness or even death is an opportunity for blessings and new experiences of God’s love. In those moments they have new feelings, raw ones they’ve never had before, and gain a greater understanding of what it means to be fully human. Many report being drawn into a closer relationship with Jesus than they ever thought possible. When we see this happening in the lives of people we know, it gives us courage and hope, and the confidence that when awful things come our way they will not overcome us, and we’ll never be separated from the love of God.
Thought for the Day: How do I react to personal calamity?
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