My Joy Is My Miracle
Photo image courtesy Unsplash
When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him." — Acts 3:9-10(NIV)
I was at a coffee shop a year after my spinal cord injury when a stranger asked if he could pray for me to be healed. He pointed to my leg brace and my limp. I told him, "Thank you, but I have already received my miracle."
Seeing my limp, the man incorrectly assumed I did not have faith and that God had not been asked to heal me. I have prayed, been prayed over, and anointed. And, I have been healed. I am no longer completely paralyzed from the ribs down. I can "get up and walk," albeit unsteadily. Praise God!
But the miracle I was referring to at the coffee shop is that God has given me an unusual contentment in light of what I lost. I have genuine joy despite my disability. God, in love and kindness, shifted my perspective from what I lost to what I have that can never be lost: the security of knowing God and being known by him.
One of my favorite healing stories is when Peter heals a lame man. You can find it in Acts 3:1-10. I love it because of the lame man’s response.
"Then Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."
I can imagine the thrill he felt standing on his feet for the first time, joy coursing through newly strengthened muscles. A shiver of excitement running down his spine into his wiggling toes.
Of course, he’d jump around and praise God. I know I would!
Scripture says the man followed Peter and praised God. His heart was full of joy in being seen and known. Peter noticed him and his physical need. Further, Peter saw the man's spiritual need, which is why he offered him healing in "the name of Jesus." The man received the miracle of walking and the miracle of salvation.
It gets better, because when the crowd saw him walking, jumping, and praising God, they recognized him as the lame man who sat at the gate day after day. And his joy filled them with awe.
His joy pointed people to Jesus.
We get lost in the weeds when we focus on a specific type of healing. We may pray for years for cancer to be healed or for a relationship to be mended. And we should continue to pray for those things.
But, friend, we’ve got to learn to widen our horizons, to look at what God has healed and pin our joy on that. Our response to the healing God brings is so important. It’s our opportunity to give God glory.
When someone asks about my leg brace and my limp, I smile and tell them about how God healed me. Most people respond with a head tilt, both curious and perplexed at the smile on my face as I teeter on unsteady feet. It’s an opportunity for me to share that my joy is my miracle. And I hope my joy points them to Jesus.
Questions for Reflection:
1.What has God miraculously healed in your life? Don’t limit your reflection to the physical realm. Has God healed a relationship? A lost dream?
2.How has your response to what has been healed, or is yet to be healed, pointed others to God?
