In this week’s Gospel, John 9:1–41, Jesus restores sight to a blind man.
As Jesus and the disciples were traveling, they came across a man who had been blind from birth. The first question the disciples asked Jesus was, “Who sinned? Was it this man or his parents that caused him to be blind?” In other words, why was he being punished?
Jesus rejected those questions and explained that just because someone is suffering does not mean they are being punished. In fact, it may be the opposite. It may be that God is able to work a blessing through that person’s suffering and do something that will positively change their life. In this moment, the disciples receive a lesson that we can all learn from: God works in our lives in ways that we may not understand, but that are ultimately for our good.
How many times have you been disappointed and unsure of what to make of it? I’m talking about those moments when you were completely let down and struggled to understand why. Have you ever lost an opportunity that you thought was yours? Have you ever lost someone you thought you couldn’t live without?
What I have found is that our small minds cannot fully grasp the power of the Lord. God wants us to have the life He has planned for us, not always the life we want for ourselves. In some cases, the life we want will not lead us closer to God. If that is the case, expect a detour. Expect to be rerouted.
God wants what is best for us and for our relationship with Him. He may close a door or remove someone from your life if it means drawing you closer to Him. What seems like a lost opportunity is usually something completely different. It may be the very experience you need to change course. Don’t be so sure that God has taken you off the right path—He may be leading you straight into His arms.
God has worked in my life through so many disappointments. Time after time, I’ve had to pick up the pieces of a shattered heart or a missed opportunity. In those moments, when I am being “rerouted,” it feels like my world is falling apart. But now I can say that has never truly been the case. God has been right a whopping 100 percent of the time.
When I look back, I can see that many times God’s favor has come disguised as an unfortunate situation. My trust is, and always has been, placed in the Lord, even when I cannot clearly see the plan. No different from the blind man in the Gospel, who was unable to see until Jesus made it possible.
Take a good look at your life and think about all the times you have been blinded by the nonsense of this world. The shiny objects, the newsfeed, the negativity of the people around you—all of it has a way of ruining our vision. This world is full of blinders that keep us from seeing the right path for our lives. This is exactly why God has to keep rerouting us.
If I can be honest, God’s path is narrow, less traveled, and filled with potholes. It is not easy to be a follower of Christ, but it is rewarding.
The rewards are not the material wins that most people think about. The true reward is knowing that you have a relationship with the Lord that is rooted in His love for you. This reward cannot be earned or won. It has already been given to each one of us. All we have to do is accept it and trust that, with or without sight, we are being led exactly where God wants us to be.
