Miracles Require Real People, Simple Obedience

Several times in my life, I have found myself in a place where I couldn’t make sense of what was happening.  I couldn’t clearly see the meaning of a certain chain of events taking place in my life.  I found myself confused about why I was in the place I was.  Through those times, I couldn’t see God’s purpose.  All I could do was cling to the hope that He knew.  What I learned through those times was the power of simple obedience, the immeasurable effect of simply being willing to make myself available and continue to serve with what I had, even when I didn’t have much.

We hear the stories of men and women of faith who had been used by God to do great and mighty miracles and so often, without realizing it, we conclude that those people must have wielded great faith.  Yes, the Bible speaks of men and women of faith, such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses’ parents, Moses and many more, who did perform great miracles, “conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.” (Hebrews 11:32-34)

However, what I see when I read those stories is real people, just like you and I, who lived on this very planet and walked one footstep at a time, who grew weary, were weak, and sometimes had very little to work with.  All they had was their faith in God, which manifested itself and was evidenced by simple acts of obedience.

One of the greatest examples of this simple act of obedience is the story of Jesus’ birth. 

The story of Jesus’ birth is a story of a colossal miracle.  A miracle so great that it split history into a “before” and “after”, reached all the way to the beginning by fulfilling God’s promise to Eve, while simultaneously reaching through millennia into the future by bringing to us the salvation that we now have because Jesus, the savior was born. 

Yet, at the same time it is a miracle that took place because of ordinary people doing ordinary things in obedience, even when they couldn’t fully understand how or why.

Consider what had to happen for Jesus to be born:  there had to be a real human, a female, who would carry the child in her womb and go through the very real process of birthing His real, physical, little body.  This all had to take place at a real, physical, material location right here on the same planet we now call our home. 

It took place in a stable because that was all that was made available and Mary was that real human, who carried Jesus in her womb. 

Her words, when the angel announced to her what was about to take place in her life, had played a huge role in my life.  Luke 1:28-38 says,

“The angel went to her (Mary) and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you.”  Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the agnel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”  The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.  For nothing is impossible with God.”

I love Mary’s response to all this…

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered.  May it be to me as you have said.”

These words have resounded deep within me on many occasions in my life.  When my circumstances confused me about the meaning of my life, when my future seemed unclear, when I couldn’t remember why I was doing what I thought was what God wanted me to do, I remembered those words, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.”

It is obvious that Mary couldn’t make sense of how all this that the angel had foretold would play out in her life.  There were so many reasons she clearly saw that would make all this impossible to happen, and if it did, it would be quite difficult to live through, and even more difficult to explain to others.  Nevertheless, she agrees to simply obey, to simply make herself available. 

Have you ever felt like God’s miracles are too great for you to carry, as Mary did at the angel’s announcement?  Have you ever thought that you are not good enough, as we think of the stable where the miracle of Jesus’ birth took place? I know I have.  That is why the story of Jesus’ birth reminds me that all I need to do is simply make myself available.  Simply say, “Yes, Lord.  I don’t understand how this will happen, but I will continue to obey you and serve you.” 

I will finish this post with a simple example from my life.  I have shared in a previous post about the impact my aunt had on my life.  She took time out of her busy, grown-up schedule and spent that time with me through those not so easy teenage years.  There was a stretch of time in those challenging years that were especially difficult for me.  My parents were going through a difficult time in their marriage.  Sadly, after years of constant conflict, they ended up getting a divorce.  In that season, as my aunt would spend time with me, she would tell me over and over that God has a purpose for my life.  She told me over and over again not to be too concerned about keeping up an image that would help me fit in with the trends, but rather focus all my attention on God’s love and pursue His presence in my life more than anything.  She made herself available for a teenage girl who was wrestling with challenges, not knowing what my future holds. 

All she saw with her physical eyes was a girl who lived in a small town, struggling through the awkward years while trying to make sense of her parent’s situation.  She didn’t know I would end up carrying a youth ministry alongside my husband.  She didn’t know I would end up speaking into the lives of the many girls who have also wondered if they were good enough.  She didn’t suspect how many of those girls would hear that same message and the course of their life would change.  All she did was simply make herself available.

I cannot count the times I would finish up a meeting with a young lady, after speaking words of purpose and encouraging uncompromising pursuit of God’s presence, I would remember that at just the right time in my life, someone made themselves available, someone served out of simple obedience.  I remember and with every step I take as I walk away from that meeting, my heart swells with gratitude and I am overwhelmed with the miracle that took place in my life. Miracles require real people making themselves available through simple obedience to the tug at their heart and simply serve.