~by Jenny
The accounts of Jesus Christ’s miracles of healing the New Testament are uplifting to read:
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, and said, “Where have ye laid him?” They said unto him, “Lord, come and see.”
Jesus wept.
Then said the Jews, “Behold how he loved him!” And some of them said, “Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?”
Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, “Take ye away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, “Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.” Jesus saith unto her, “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.”… And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”
And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, “Loose him, and let him go.” (John 11:32-44)
To believe in the power of Christ over life and death takes faith, and many do have that faith. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we believe in miracles. We believe that they truly happened in the days of Christ and we believe that they happen now. We are told that miracles such as these will be a sign of those who truly believe in Christ. (Mark 16:17-20, Mormon 9:20-25)
Still, faith not withstanding, not everyone receives the type of miracle they hope for. Miracles happen, but sometimes the miracles are not of physical healing, but of spiritual healing, of endurance, of incredible faith in the presence of daily pain. Despite the different types of daily miracles present in our lives they are looked at as lesser than a miracle of physical healing. In some ways they are greater, if we consider the reason Christ performed miracles.
“Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” John 9:3
If miracles are meant to increase our faith maybe a greater testament to the power of Jesus Christ is a miracle that takes place quietly, daily, humbly in the life of a follower of Christ. My faith is strengthened as I watch those I admire struggle against their ongoing trials day after day. Their faith is constantly renewed with the rising of the sun, they continue on with a love of God despite the burdens that have been placed upon their backs. There is no harsh reviling against the God who gave them life, or curse against the body he blessed them with, even in its pains. Instead there is a pursuit of his ultimate praise and a humble follower’s heart. Reluctantly, even I admit that my own faith grows more in the daily struggle with affliction than it would if the afflictions were removed in an instant.
Elder Henry B. Eyring, an apostle of the Lord said this of valiant, faithful people: “The disciple who accepts a trial as an invitation to grow and therefore qualify for eternal life can find peace in the midst of the struggle.”
Of course no discussion of these type of trials would be complete without referring to Job. Imagine the physical sight of this prophet of God brought so low in affliction- no property, no family, boils covering his body, his closest friends accusing him of sin. Yet he still utters these words, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.”
That to me is a miracle.
Looking back at the scripture I mentioned previously, John 9:3, we see something else that is important to remember about the absence of a physically healing miracle. There is no sin present in the person who doesn’t receive this type of miracle. The Savior himself is plain about that fact.
Sometimes as a people of faith we doubt the faith of our fellow believers in Christ when they labor under great burdens such as illness, unemployment, family problems, etc. We believe so much in the compassion and healing powers of Jesus Christ that we sometimes blame the person for their problems. ‘If they only had enough faith, they could be healed’ a part of our mind whispers. Perhaps our minds could expand to realize that their lives are a living miracle, that each day is a witness of the power of Christ, helping them to live with the burdens he has asked them to carry. Much in the same way Job continued to worship God in the midst of his afflictions.
Miracles do happen, real physical healing miracles and the type of miracles I speak of here. Miracles are a blessing from our Heavenly Father when we show faith and are obedient to him. It isn’t often that a miracle makes the headlines, many who have those special experiences keep them close to their hearts. Miracles are another evidence of a loving God, who mercifully blesses us, his children.
