Lost in despair
Lost in despair
Look up to Jesus. He will make you a believer in miracles!
Do you believe in miracles?
In Acts 3:1-10, we learn of a man who was crippled from birth and forced to beg every day at the gate to the temple courts. His despair was evident as he refused to lift his eyes even to look at the passers-by. Any hope of being healed had long ago faded.
We are not immune to experiencing dejection and even despair in our lives. When the doctor gives us a bad health report, for example, we may put up a brave front: “Don’t tell me what I can’t do!” But inside we are hurting and growing more skeptical as we realize how hopelessly limited we are. Only a miracle could help us. But who really believes in miracles anymore?
Walking by faith
“Look at us!” (v. 4), Peter said to the lame man. The man looked at Peter. But Peter knew he hadn’t set the man’s sights high enough. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (v. 6). Peter directed the man to see Jesus Christ as the source of hope and miracles.
The Holy Spirit nudges our downcast souls heavenward as he reveals to us in Scripture the miraculous power of Jesus. “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1,2).
Don’t try to tell Jesus what he can’t do! Mourners laughed at him when he asserted he could raise Jairus’ daughter from death to life. But he did it. His own disciples didn’t think he could feed 5,000 people. But he did. No one thought he could destroy the temple of his body and raise it up in three days. But he did.
Don’t tell Jesus what he can’t do! Don’t think for a moment that he cannot turn your dejection into celebration. Don’t think he is limited in the scope of the hope he offers you. Lift up your eyes to the Son of God and be filled with wonder and amazement as he performs miracles beyond imagining: restoring life to souls long dead in sins, creating hope in a limitless life in heaven for those so limited on earth, and even turning our graves into gateways to paradise.
