“As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.  And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”  Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed.” John 9:1-3 ESV

I have seen much illness in my life.  My mother was diagnosed with MS 30 years ago.  I only have one memory of her walking.  Just one.  Two of my three children have Cystic Fibrosis.  Why?  For a long time this was my question.  Why?  And then I came upon this verse.  The disciples ask Jesus why?  Why was this man born blind?  Who sinned?  Jesus’ answer spoke so clearly to my heart.  No one sinned, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.  This man’s blindness was an opportunity.  It was an opportunity for the world to see the wonderful works of a mighty and awesome God.  We have a choice.  We can choose to keep our illness, our shortcomings, our imperfections for ourselves.  We can choose to be bitter and angry, or we can give them to God.  We can ask God to display his works through our weakness.  What an amazing opportunity!   My mother understood this.  She had been a music minister at a church before she became ill.  By the time I was 5 she was bedridden and required constant care.  I remember talking to her about her illness, and asking her if she wished to be well.  I will never forget the day she told me more people had come to Christ because she had MS than ever came to Christ because she was a music minister. Over and over in her life the works of God have been displayed!  God is good.  He gave me my mother to prepare my heart to raise my girls.  My girls have a wonderful opportunity with their Cystic Fibrosis.  If they choose, mighty works of God can be displayed in their lives!  It is my job to help my girls take the focus off of the “why” and onto the Lord, and the wonderful “works” he has planned to “display” through them.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Jessica Griffis