Miracles Still Happen

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, for I am going to the father. (John 14:12, NLT). What does this mean to you? For the longest time, I thought this verse referred specifically to the time of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the early disciples and some pretty amazing things began to happen. People heard the good news in their own language when the speaker couldn’t speak a word of it in the natural, people were healed, prison doors burst open, and the list goes on. I have come to believe that Jesus wasn’t just talking about the apostles and the early disciples. We’ve talked about how God still speaks today. If it is true that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever as we are taught in Hebrews 13:8, then it would stand to reason that he is still the God of the miraculous. I learned this firsthand as I will share in this story of how God told me in no uncertain terms that I am his child…yesterday, today, and forever.

I shared how hope began to rise in my soul, and though sometimes healing is instantaneous, it’s sometimes a long process and though hope had started to grow, I was still weighed down by shame. I felt unworthy and yet I persisted in the struggle because I wanted peace- the peace that would empower me to comfort those with that same God given peace. (2 Corinthians 1:4). My pursuit of this peace led me to rise early on Easter Sunday. I was going to attend an Easter sunrise service on the beach. The fact that I was up and functioning at that time of the morning was a miracle in and of itself. The fact that the falling rain and chilly air didn’t send me back to bed was bigger still. As I was driving to pick up a friend I prayed a very child like prayer.

When I think back on that prayer I have to marvel at the outcome. I wanted the rain to stop and I didn’t want to freeze but my the words of my prayer were for the people. I mentioned that it would be wonderful if the other attendees didn’t have to sit in the freezing rain. I feel if as if I was somehow trying to negotiate with God and I pulled the selfless card but God knew as I’m sure that you can guess, that a lot of self interest went into that prayer. God responded to my prayer though. He told me that if I wanted it to stop raining than I was to command the rain to stop in his name. I was transported back to a childhood moment when my father held me on his lap and allowed me to ‘steer’ our family’s power boat. I knew that God had empowered me to stop the rain but I wasn’t sure that I should. Was God teasing me? I do believe that God has an amazing sense of humor, but he wasn’t being funny. He wanted me to do this, so I did. “In the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, I command it not to rain.” It stopped raining. The clouds didn’t go anywhere and the sun didn’t make a sudden appearance but the rain stopped. All through the service, the clouds held. We went to brunch after church and not a drop fell. We went for a walk down the beach and the only thing that got wet was our feet. I returned to the car, started it up, and the rain began to fall. I was humbled, awed, and overjoyed. That day I went home and wrote a song. It was called “who am I?”

Who are we that God would give us the power to perform miracles? We are his children! I needed a reminder, and he chose to remind me of his love in a very personal way. I believe that he will do the same for you as well.

Have you ever been a part of a miracle? What happened and how did it make you feel afterward? What impact has this miracle had on you in your walk with the Lord? What miracle are you praying for even now?

Oh gracious Heavenly Father. You stop at nothing to show your love for us. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and the spirit to respond to your promptings when you want to show us a miracle. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray.