We call them miracles—supernatural occurrences that enter our lives. The word comes from the Latin and means “to wonder.” According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, miracles are “wonders performed by supernatural power as signs of some special mission or gift and explicitly ascribed to God.”
For God, miracles are love in action!
It is God’s nature to love, to love each and every one of us passionately, completely and unconditionally. God wants us to know with faith that He is real. We see this in Hebrews:
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
It is our choice, our response, to believe in God and His unending, unlimited love. When we do believe, we must also believe in His miracles.
The Bible is replete with signs and wonders. In the Gospel of John, for example, Jesus performs seven signs or wonders, including the raising of Lazarus and changing water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana. All four Gospels tell of Jesus feeding thousands with just a few fish and loaves of bread. Jesus walks on water. In the Old Testament, Elijah receives comfort and instructions from God; Moses crosses the Red Sea; and Daniel is saved from the lion’s den.
In traveling to many places throughout the United States and the world, I often speak on miracles and ask people if they have experienced one or more of God’s supernatural interventions in their lives. In almost every instance, people raise their hands and acknowledge that miracles have been present in their lives. When asked to describe these interventions, they have no explanation of how a healing took place or how an event occurred except through God’s help. The more we have faith, the more God opens our eyes to see the truth of His love in our lives.
Miracles big and small occur each and every day, even in this chaotic, failing world—a father is cured of cancer, a child is born, the last parking spot opens up, a rainbow appears in the sky, an old friend calls just as you think of him, rain falls on parched dry earth, forgiveness blesses estranged friends and families, a blinding storm lifts suddenly to allow a flight home to visit a dying parent…
We must open both our hearts and minds to recognize miracles. We need to “expect and experience miracles!”
Often God uses us to make miracles happen; we become His catalysts on earth, revealing His love in action. In fact, Jesus was clear, as John reports in his Gospel, that we will do greater works than those He performed.
“Amen, Amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do works even greater than these because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:12-13)
This is an incredible promise! We will do what Jesus did and more! Jesus laid hands on the sick and they recovered! Jesus drove out demons! Jesus performed countless works of love and mercy and kindness! We, too, in the name of Jesus, can be God’s messengers of miracles.
Miracles strengthen us by helping us realize that God is with us—we are not alone. When we experience a miracle, even if we can’t prove it scientifically, we are filled with hope, passion and the desire to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ: God loves us without limit; God is with us always; God is present to us in miracles.
