By Erin Elizabeth Austin
I have a confession to make: I’m a rule-breaker. As hard as I try, I just can’t seem to keep myself from breaking rules. I sometimes eat sweets before going to bed; I sometimes cheat on my gluten-free diet; and despite my best efforts, I can’t seem to keep myself from watching Christmas movies, even though we have yet to celebrate Thanksgiving. Because I love Christmas so much, I have an unwritten rule that to keep this time of year special, I will not listen to Christmas music or watch Christmas movies until after Thanksgiving. But this year, I’ve failed miserably. In part, this is due to radio stations and the Hallmark channel breaking my Christmas rule, but part of it is my fault. I have been increasingly sick over the past few weeks, and watching Christmas movies has helped me briefly forget my problems.
One of my favorite Christmas movies is a Hallmark movie entitled A Season for Miracles. Like all good Christmas movies, this particular movie involves an angel helping someone overcome their trials, doubts, and fears. At one point in the movie, one of the main characters, a ten-year old girl, says she doesn’t believe in miracles because life is hard and unfair. Although the statement is callous, I have to admit I have often understood this child’s feelings. When I was first diagnosed with lupus, I begged God to heal me. I asked others to pray that God would heal me. I even went to a healing service in hopes that I would indeed experience a miracle, but nothing happened. In the end, I concluded miracles were a thing of the past – something only people in biblical times could ever experience. Like the little girl from the movie, I decided people were fooling themselves if they believed anything is possible and were setting themselves up for pain and disappointment.
I have a confession to make: I’m a rule-breaker. As hard as I try, I just can’t seem to keep myself from breaking rules. I sometimes eat sweets before going to bed; I sometimes cheat on my gluten-free diet; and despite my best efforts, I can’t seem to keep myself from watching Christmas movies, even though we have yet to celebrate Thanksgiving. Because I love Christmas so much, I have an unwritten rule that to keep this time of year special, I will not listen to Christmas music or watch Christmas movies until after Thanksgiving. But this year, I’ve failed miserably. In part, this is due to radio stations and the Hallmark channel breaking my Christmas rule, but part of it is my fault. I have been increasingly sick over the past few weeks, and watching Christmas movies has helped me briefly forget my problems.
One of my favorite Christmas movies is a Hallmark movie entitled A Season for Miracles. Like all good Christmas movies, this particular movie involves an angel helping someone overcome their trials, doubts, and fears. At one point in the movie, one of the main characters, a ten-year old girl, says she doesn’t believe in miracles because life is hard and unfair. Although the statement is callous, I have to admit I have often understood this child’s feelings. When I was first diagnosed with lupus, I begged God to heal me. I asked others to pray that God would heal me. I even went to a healing service in hopes that I would indeed experience a miracle, but nothing happened. In the end, I concluded miracles were a thing of the past – something only people in biblical times could ever experience. Like the little girl from the movie, I decided people were fooling themselves if they believed anything is possible and were setting themselves up for pain and disappointment.
It took several years for God to break through my bitter emotions. I had to go through a couple of close calls with my health for God to help me see that miracles and healing still exist, just not always in the way we hope to see it. I’ve often heard that Jesus died on the cross to stop suffering, but it’s not true. He died on the cross to save us from our sins and spending an eternity in Hell. Suffering will never fully end this side of Heaven. Even if we are healed from our illnesses, unfortunately we will still experience some form of pain and heartache in our lifetime because we live in an imperfect world with imperfect people. As Paul said in Philippians 3:20, our citizenship is in Heaven. We are simply visitors passing through a foreign land. Yet despite this, miracles are all around us. If we have a relationship with Christ, we are not alone in our suffering. We have a Savior and Friend who never leaves or abandons us. Because of the Holy Spirit, we can be filled with joy and a peace that passes understanding despite whatever we may face. And we are also a part of the family of God, which means we have others who will stand with us, strengthening and encouraging us when we are too weak to continue on our own. Miracles are all around us; we just have to open our eyes.
Philippians 3:21 is one of my all-time favorite Bible verses. It’s a verse I always read when I begin to lose hope that I will ever experience a true and complete healing. It says, “He (Christ) will change our weak mortal bodies and make them like His own glorious body, using that power by which He is able to bring all things under His rule.” To anyone who is sick, these words are powerful. They remind us that one day, our suffering will end. There will be no more medicines, tests, doctors’ appointments, pain, and debilitating fatigue. Like Paul said, Christ will take our weak, mortal bodies and change them to be like His. That’s enough to make anyone excited! But until that time comes, we still have reason to praise God. Even though we are experiencing a season of suffering right now, God is still at work. Sometimes the miracle is that God gives us the strength and grace to carry on despite the challenges we face. Often, we are able to experience God's power in an even greater way than if we were simply delivered from our suffering. Is this easy? No. Is it fun? Absolutely not, but we must never forget that just because we don't always get the healing we're hoping and praying for doesn't mean God isn't working in our lives. Maybe instead of focusing on our lack of healing, we should try to look at things from God's perspective. He longs to reveal Himself to each of us. All we have to do is ask.
So, are you ready to experience your own season for miracles?
“And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” ~ Revelation 21:4
© November 15, 2012
Philippians 3:21 is one of my all-time favorite Bible verses. It’s a verse I always read when I begin to lose hope that I will ever experience a true and complete healing. It says, “He (Christ) will change our weak mortal bodies and make them like His own glorious body, using that power by which He is able to bring all things under His rule.” To anyone who is sick, these words are powerful. They remind us that one day, our suffering will end. There will be no more medicines, tests, doctors’ appointments, pain, and debilitating fatigue. Like Paul said, Christ will take our weak, mortal bodies and change them to be like His. That’s enough to make anyone excited! But until that time comes, we still have reason to praise God. Even though we are experiencing a season of suffering right now, God is still at work. Sometimes the miracle is that God gives us the strength and grace to carry on despite the challenges we face. Often, we are able to experience God's power in an even greater way than if we were simply delivered from our suffering. Is this easy? No. Is it fun? Absolutely not, but we must never forget that just because we don't always get the healing we're hoping and praying for doesn't mean God isn't working in our lives. Maybe instead of focusing on our lack of healing, we should try to look at things from God's perspective. He longs to reveal Himself to each of us. All we have to do is ask.
So, are you ready to experience your own season for miracles?
“And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” ~ Revelation 21:4
© November 15, 2012
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