March 28

His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” — John 9:2-3

Are troubles sent to punish us for our sins? The people in Christ’s day thought so. But Jesus gave a different explanation. He said the man was blind–that the works of God should be displayed in his life. His blindness led him into contact with Jesus–and thus brought him a double blessing, the opening of his natural eyes, and the opening of his soul’s eyes. Probably he would never have met Jesus–but for his misfortune of blindness. If he had not been blind, this miracle of his healing would never have been wrought!

A great many revealings and blessings come through troubles. Jesus said the sickness of Lazarus was for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. No doubt every sickness is an opportunity for a blessing of some kind, both to the person who is sick and to his friends. Every loss we have, is meant to be the revealing to us of a gain which would more than make compensation. Every disappointment in our life, is intended to give us a better thing than that which we have failed to get.