In these verses we read this: “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
Sometimes, people have the feeling that it is because they did something bad that some bad things have happened to them. This is not new. A common belief in the Jewish culture was that calamity or suffering was the result of some great sin. But here, Jesus use this man’s suffering to teach us about faith and how to glorify God. My brother, my sister, we live in a fallen world where good behaviour is not always rewarded and bad behaviour is not always punished. Therefore, innocent sometimes people suffer. Now, if God would take away suffering whenever we ask Him for, we would follow him for comfort and convenience, not out of love and devotion. Yet, He wants our hearts above all else.
My friend, regardless of the reasons for our suffering, Jesus has the power to deal with it. When you suffer from a disease, tragedy, or disability like this blind man, try not to ask Him ‘why did this happen to me?’ or ‘what did I do wrong?’ because everything that happens to you may not have a human explanation. Instead, ask the Lord to give you the strength your need to overcome the trial and a clearer perspective on what is happening. Understanding why something unwanted has happened to you will not help you anyway. It is knowing that Jesus Christ is Lord, even in that situation that will help you. Why? Because as you focus your attention on the Lord (and not on the problem), He will take care of the problem. But as long as you are still looking for reasons why suffering hit you, you are actually trying to take care of it yourself, which naturally prevents the Lord from acting. May the Lord, who is by your side, strengthen you and give you the courage to face any obstacle and challenge you’re going through right now God may be glorified. Just ask Him the right questions. Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.