As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 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. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. (John 9:1-7 NIV).

Yesterday I wrote about the twists and turns in life. Sometimes they provide for a wonderful change with new vistas of beauty around the curve; and, sometimes they take us into unfamiliar territory that threatens wreck our lives! I am often faced with the questions of others as they are experiencing a deeply troubling challenge asking for the “why” of them. Frankly, there are times when we can't understand why bad things happen to good people, even the people of God. We see Christians suffer; we ourselves suffer. We look around to see what God is up to and sometimes the reason is hard to find.

I don't know about you, but I have had my share of hard times. I have witnessed firsthand the difficulties that life can often bring. I have seen loved ones suffer; felt the loss of a friend. I know what it is like to see your checkbook with negatives down every page of the register. I have experienced what seemed like defeat. I'll admit, sometimes it is difficult to see what purpose God has for these trials. Then He comes through again. Once again He does what appears to be the impossible. My faith is restored and I have strength to go on again. It is at those times when I realize that He was at work all the time; that He had a plan bigger than my problem. I recognize that God is still in control.