Bad for Good

There are two tragic events mentioned in John chapters 9 and 11. In John chapter 9 we meet a man who was born blind. In John 11, we have the death of Lazarus. When Jesus is asked why the man was born blind, whether it was because of his sin or the sin of his parents, Jesus says, ““Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” Then in chapter 11 when Jesus arrives on the scene and Lazarus’ death is mentioned Jesus says, ““This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Do you see it? We have two terrible tragedies…blindness and death; and in both cases these events are said to have happened so that God and His work could be glorified. The blind man suffered without sight for years and Lazarus died and his family mourned, so that God could be glorified. Are you willing to allow God the freedom to work in this way in your life and in the life of someone you love so that God can receive glory? This takes genuine faith in a loving and gracious God. This takes trust in a sovereign God. I hope that you have a relationship with God in an intimate way that allows you to not rebel against Him when something goes wrong, but rather a relationship that leans into Him and trusts that whatever events occur, that God is working for your good and His glory.