You Were Made for Miracles — Carol McLeod Ministries
A Note from Carol: One of the greatest joys of my ministry is sharing voices that ignite faith and courage with unmistakable passion and purpose. Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Rachel Faulkner Brown—a powerful communicator, author, and woman of fearless conviction. Rachel carries a mantle of revival, calling women to live with boldness, freedom, and deep surrender to the Holy Spirit. Whether she’s ministering to widows, mentoring leaders, or rallying believers to pray with power, Rachel’s message is clear: God still heals, restores, and calls His daughters to rise. Her life is a testimony of beauty from ashes, and her voice will awaken something fresh in your walk with Jesus.
Have you ever stood in a moment and thought, “Surely, this is not how the story ends?”
I have…and I bet we could all tell more stories than we care to tell. Three years ago, I was sitting in the hospital with my daughter 6 weeks into her freshman year of high school receiving a devastating diagnosis. Her high school days of homecomings and proms and Friday night lights felt dead. This WAS NOT how I thought the story should go. We had the suffering card in hand. We had checked that box on the bingo card. I was sure that the ‘trouble of the world’ had passed over my door like the angel of death. It had not.
Whether it’s the ache of losing someone, the death of a dream, or a season of transition that feels like it’s unraveling—you’re not alone. Loss comes in many forms. But so does resurrection.
The beautiful thing about God is that he never wastes pain but honestly WE CAN. In fact, throughout Scripture, it’s often the ones who have suffered the most who are positioned to see his power most clearly. I fully believe THE DIFFERENCE in the people who suffered great pain and others is that they surrendered their pain and OBEYED in spite of it.
One of those people?
Mary, the mother of Jesus.
And tucked within her story is a blueprint—not just for surviving heartbreak—but for stepping into the miraculous invite Jesus offers us all.
The Wedding at Cana: A Divine Disruption
In John 2:1–12 (TPT), we read about Jesus’ first miracle.
It wasn’t on a battlefield.
Not in a temple.
But at a wedding.
And the miracle began not with Jesus—but with Mary.
“Jesus and his disciples were all invited to the banquet, but with so many guests, they ran out of wine. And when Mary realized it, she came to Jesus and asked, ‘they have no wine; can’t you do something about it?'”
John 2:2–3 TPT
She saw the need.
She brought it to Jesus.
And she fully expected him to move.
Even when Jesus responded with, “My hour of unveiling my power has not yet come” (v. 4), she turned to the servants and said:
“Whatever Jesus tells you, do it!”
John 2:5 TPT
Mary knew her Son.
She knew his heart.
And she knew—this wasn’t the end of the story.
How Do Miracles Begin?
If you’ve been feeling like the miracle hasn’t come yet, maybe this is the moment to lean in. Because Mary’s story reveals how God often works—especially in those who carry loss, longing, or disappointment.
1. She Perceived the Need.
Mary didn’t ignore the problem—she noticed it first.
Loss has a way of either numbing us or making us incredibly aware. You may not feel like you have much right now, but chances are, you’ve been noticing things others miss.
That’s not weakness—it’s discernment.
“I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling.”
Ephesians 1:18 TPT
What if your sensitivity isn’t a liability—but it’s actually a gift of the Holy Spirit!?
2. She Presented the Request.
Mary didn’t try to fix it.
She didn’t panic.
She simply brought it to Jesus.
“Ask, and the gift is yours. Seek, and you’ll discover. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.”
Matthew 7:7 TPT
Sometimes grief or disappointment keeps us from asking. We assume God doesn’t want to be bothered, or that our prayers won’t change anything. But Mary reminds us:
It’s not about understanding the outcome. It’s about trusting the Source.
God doesn’t need elaborate requests—just surrendered hearts.
3. She Prepared for Overflow.
Mary turned to the servants and said, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”
She didn’t need details. She didn’t wait for conditions to be perfect. She simply stepped into faith.
“So now wrap your heart tightly around the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promises!”
Hebrews 10:23 TPT
That’s what faith looks like—expectancy in the face of uncertainty.
From Brokenness to Boldness
Maybe you’ve been carrying sorrow, waiting for the next chapter. Maybe you’ve wondered if God still wants to use your life. Hear this:
Your loss doesn’t disqualify you. It positions you.
Even on the cross, Jesus paused to care for Mary. He didn’t overlook her pain. He made provision for her future (see John 19:26–27).
And the last time we see Mary in Scripture?
“Those present were Peter, John, Jacob, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, Jacob (the son of Alpheus), Simon (the zealot), Judas (the son of Jacob), and a number of women, including Mary, Jesus’ mother. His brothers were there as well. All of them were united in prayer, gripped with one passion, interceding night and day.”
Acts 1:13–14 TPT
She was still believing.
Still expecting.
Still praying to receive more for what was to come.
And so are you.
You Are a Catalyst
The miracle didn’t begin with Jesus turning water into wine.
It began with someone who saw, asked, and obeyed.
That someone could be you.
Your obedience might look like:
Forgiving someone
Showing up again
Praying when it hurts
Believing when it’s hard
Acting boldly to pray for someone who has a health crisis
“So now wrap your heart tightly around the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promises!”
Hebrews 10:23 TPT
Let this be the moment you say:
“Whatever he tells me, I’ll do it.”
Because that is where the miracle begins.
You were made for more than survival.
You were made to carry the miraculous.
Redeeming Grief with Rachel Faulkner Brown
In one of the most moving episodes of the Significant Women podcast, Carol McLeod welcomes Rachel Brown—author, speaker, and founder of Never Alone Widows—for a powerful conversation about love, loss, and the miraculous restoration that only God can bring. Rachel opens up about marrying her college sweetheart Todd and building what felt like the perfect life. But just three months into their marriage, a tragic and unexpected health crisis took Todd’s life—leaving Rachel a widow at only 23. With raw honesty, she shares the shock of sudden grief, the sacred moments of heartbreak, and how Jesus met her in the wreckage.
Connect with Rachel: Instagram: / rachelfaulknerbrown Website: www.neveralonewidows.com
