Growing up, I often viewed prayer as a last resort. Not on purpose; it was just natural for me to try figuring things out on my own first. In college I realized: prayer was not designed to be our last option. It was designed to be our first. God is a miracle-working God, and He longs for His children to come to Him for help. When we do, He moves our spirits to faith and obedience, which are both necessary for miracles.
We see this in John 5, when Jesus visited a pool near Jerusalem. The waters there had grown stagnant, but during the three Jewish feasts in Israel, people claimed an angel stirred them. The first to dip into the stirred water was healed of whatever was ailing them.
There was a lame man who had waited by the pool for a long time, but he could never get into the waters first. When Jesus saw him, he asked, “Do you want to get well?” Since the man had been lame for thirty-eight years and was obviously desperate for healing, Jesus’ question seemed insensitive. But as always, Jesus had a purpose behind his method.
See, Jesus knows that when tough situations linger in our lives, we often lose hope, quit believing, and settle. He cared enough about this man to move his spirit to belief that inspired action and in turn, bring about his miracle.
The conversation continued in verses 7-8: “‘Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’”
Jesus’ response to the invalid was both powerful and telling. He made it clear that miracles don’t happen by accident. They happen because we allow our hearts to be moved by faith to the point of obedience.
Whatever miracle you’re believing for today—whether financial, relational, emotional, or physical—I encourage you to learn from this man. First, recognize God knows best. In your struggles, don’t lie down in defeat; instead, run to Him in prayer and let Him move you toward faith and obedience.
Second, understand God knows how to bring about your miracle better than anyone. So don’t exempt or excuse yourself from faith and obedience when things get tough. Instead, lean into what He says will work. Finally, realize God knows you, so He knows what you need better than you do.
In times of trial, we can’t solely rely on our education about God. We must rely on our experience with Him. We must trust the work of His Holy Spirit, believing God knows best, He knows how, and perhaps most comforting of all, He knows us.
God loves you more than you could imagine, friend. So don’t lose hope amid challenges, and don’t limit what His Spirit can do. He is a miracle worker—yesterday, today, and forever!
