I have always enjoyed the times in my life when I have had the opportunity to witness miracles. Whether big or small, I never get used to experiencing miracles in this life. I know that many people think miracles don't happen, but my life experiences have shown me that they do!
Every day, it seems, I experience the small miracles of seeing people's lives change in drastic and beautiful ways. As a counselor, I think that every time someone has an "AHA!" moment when they finally see things rightly for the first time, every time someone experiences unconditional acceptance and this changes life, and every time someone experiences healing from years of pain and hurt, this is a miracle.
I have experienced these miracles in my own life as well. I have been able to experience great healing and grace in relationships and I believe that without God's hand, this healing would not be possible.
Of course, many people identify birth as a miracle. I so enjoy seeing and holding newborns because it shows me the power of God. The tiny hands, feet, mouth, and all the moving parts made perfectly are truly remarkable.
But, there have been 2 times in my life that I have experienced a life altering miracle. It's so interesting to me that the big "the laws of nature don't account for this" kind of miracles can be so unnerving. And yet, at least in my life, this is my experience.
The first big miracle I experienced occurred when I was 22. I was in a horrible car accident on the highway one night. Me and my 4 passengers stood in the left lane of the highway for 30 minutes at the bottom of a hill at 2 AM waiting for rescue workers to help us. When the rescue workers came, they told us that they took so long because no one survives an accident at that particular location. They asked us multiple times if we were the ones in the accident because they could not believe that we were all alive and uninjured. I walked away praising God and yet also experiencing symptoms of PTSD. Why? Because what happened that night did not fit my beliefs about life or God. I did not know how to process and integrate this event and it took some hard work for me to be able to see God rightly as a God who stops time, bends the laws of nature, consumes a bush with fire without it being burned up, feeds His people for years with manna in the wilderness, and raises the dead.
I, like many others, had always thought too little of God, saying that while He might have done those things in the past, surely He would not, dare I say could not, do those things in the present day. I don't know about you, but I know that I have always had a hard time believing beyond any doubts that the things I read in the Scriptures really, truly happened!
Last week, I had the opportunity to experience once again the power, greatness, and Majesty of my God. One of my closest friends learned about a month ago that her husband had a large brain tumor in his head. They scheduled surgery which got canceled twice and then changed doctors and had another MRI done. Please note that there were 3 MRIs done initially and all 3 showed the tumor. The MRI done a week ago showed NO TUMOR, only a 1 centimeter cyst where the tumor once existed! Many, many people had been praying for this answer for several weeks and yet, seeing God's power still shocks me!
Here's the thing I love most about God. Even when He performs miracles, He shows His grace and mercy for His children. It's as if He knew that the questions that would arise from having 3 MRIs show a tumor and 1 show no tumor would be, "Is this the right MRI?" I LOVE that He left a 1 centimeter cyst in my friend's brain to be gracious unto His children who are prone to doubt.
I am glad to say that I worship this God.
