I was Blind but now I See

Last night at High School Summer Nights we watched the second part of Louie Giglio's video: Hope When Life Hurts Most. He talked about how suffering is amplifies our message. Everyone has a life message. When suffering hits, our message is shouted out like a megaphone to those around us. He talked about the self-preservation person. The one who cares about getting as far down the road in the best shape possible without sickness and tragedy...they want this for themselves and for their family. But what happens when trouble, death, and sickness does come? They hit a wall. They question the goodness and even the existence of God. Their ultimate goal in life has been destroyed and they have no control. He talked about though if our ultimate goal is glorifying God. If we trade up our self-preservation goal for something bigger than at the end we can still say God is good. It reminds me of the story of the blind man in John 9. The disciples are asking Jesus why a certain blind man was born blind. They asked if it was his sin or his parent's sin that led him to this point. Jesus answered that it was neither his nor his parents sin. Rather, he was born blind "so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." This man's suffering could become a megaphone and an amplifier for Jesus Christ. Had this man not been born blind, how could we see Jesus work a miracle and give him his sight? Suffering amplifies our message. I pray now in the calm that when the storms come I might be a megaphone and amplify that God is good. God is good despite our circumstances. God is good despite our losses. God is always good.