Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Without God it is utterly impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Mark 10:27
The story is told of a Father and his six year old son, Mickey, who were fishing near a bridge when a woman lost control of her car, slid off the bridge, and hit Mickey at a speed of 50 mph.
When the sheriff, who was also Mickey’s grandfather, arrived on the scene, he feared the worst. He left immedately and when he arrived at Saint Joseph’s hospital, he rushed to the emergency room. To his great relief, he found Mickey conscious and in relatively good spirits considering the severity of the accident.
“Mickey,” he asked, “what happened?” “Well,” replied Mickey, ” I was fishing with Dad and some lady runned me over. I flew into a mud puddle, broke my fishing pole, and didn’t get to catch no fish!”
As it turned out, the impact had propelled Mickey around 500 feet over trees, down an embankment, and landed him in a mud puddle. The only injury he sustained was a leg which was broken in two places and was repaired with surgery and pins. When he came out of surgery, all the boy could talk about was his broken fishing pole. In order to placate him, his grandfather went to Wal-Mart and bought him a new fishing pole to have while he was in the hospital.
The next day when the two were visiting in the hospital room, and Mickey was casting his new fishing pole into the trash can, he said matter of factly, “Gramps, did you know that Jesus is real?” Taken aback, his Gramps relplied, “Yes, he is real to those who believe in Him.” “Nope,” said Mickey,”Jesus is REALLY real. I know because when that lady runned me over and broke my fishing pole, Jesus caught me in His arms and laid me down in that mud puddle!” As the story spread through the town, the people there were in awe, and many were heard to say, “It”s a miracle!”
We hear a lot about miracles today, but sometimes we tend to use the term “miracle” loosely. We can call anything from a win in a close football game, to finding a lucky penny, to common everyday occurences a miracle. Conversly, sometimes we tend to take the everyday miracles all around us for granted. We ignore a rainbow, a hummingbird, a beautiful sunrise or sunset, a good health report, or a feeling of peace.
A true miracle is defined as a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws, and is therefore, considered to be the work of the divine agency.
During the ministry of Jesus, the Bible records many miracles perfomed by Christ. The story of Jesus turning the water into wine was the first recorded miracle He ever performed, and it was through this miracle that He shows us His unlimited power and strength in situations. Comedian Mark Lowry said, “I think that it is great that Jesus’ first miracle wasn’t raising the dead or giving sight to the blind, rather His first miracle was one ‘just to keep the party going.'”
The New Testament records 37 miracles performed by Jesus ranging from healing the sick and casting out demons, to calming storms, and raising the dead. He takes the most complex situations, transforms them, and accomplishes things beyond our conception.
All of us, at one time or another, have come or will come to a point in our lives when we need and pray for a miracle. It could be the miracle of physical healing for ourselves or someone we love. It could be the miracle of a new beginning in our lives. It could be the miracle of a career change when most needed, or it could be the miracle of relief from stress, worry, and frustration in our lives.
I find great comfort in knowing that nothing in our lives takes God by surprise. There is nothing that limits His ability to intervene in our lives and accomplish miracles beyond our conception.
Albert Einstein says, There are only wo ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. This perspective emphasizes choosing to see the wonder in everyday existence and His divine hand in our lives.
It is only because of God’s love for us that He sends miracles into our lives. Take time today to look around and see all that God has done. It’s a miracle!