14 day plan

The Discipline of Suffering: Redeeming Our Stories

Day 2 of 14

NIV

John 9:3-9

3“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7“Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

8His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

Reflection:  I always felt my mum thought it was her fault that I have had to struggle through life so much. She would probably do anything to take my disability from me if she could. As a parent myself I can understand how difficult this must be at times, watching a person you love struggle just to do basic things and to be in pain all the time.

She has told me that before I was born, she had two miscarriages. She always wondered why this happened. I do not understand what a miscarriage is like, or the loss it produces. I do believe those little bodies could not have lived in this world for a reason. Perhaps they had a disability worse than my own. Perhaps it is good they did not have to suffer.

Being a parent is a fraught job. We can never be perfect. We cannot protect our children from ourselves or the world. Children need to work it out on their own. It is part of living in world that is imperfect and unpredictable.

I do not blame my parents for my disability. I have long accepted it as being part of who I am and my identity. Other Christians seem to struggle with it though. They, from time to time, ask me if I have had prayer for healing. My reaction to that is usually one of puzzle. I wonder why they needed to ask. Am I making them feel uncomfortable? I have never felt like God wants to take my pain and suffering away.

Sometimes though, if I am really honest, I fall into the thinking trap that my life is cursed. This is on the days when I am not coping, and everything seems pointless, and my courage has faded. This of course is a lie. Even though in that brief moment the pain is real, it passes, and my eyes are again opened to see the good, and God gives me the grace to be brave and courageous.

Healed or not, the same truth applies – my suffering allows the works of God to be displayed in my life.

Prayer:  Jesus you are the light of the world. You worked in the world when you lived among us, and you continue to work in the world today. Do your works through me today so that God might be glorified. Amen.