Making Mud

“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” John 9:6.

We continue considering the story of the blind man who gained his vision at the hands of Jesus.  As the man stood before Him in total darkness, he must have wondered what was going on.  He could only hear the conversation between the disciples and Jesus.  What were they talking about?  Some were insinuating that his blindness was a result of his sins or the sins of his parents.  But the other man was telling them that his blindness was an opportunity for God to display His miracles.  What?  This beggar, shunned and ignored for a long time, was God’s chosen instrument?   How strange that these people were standing around talking about his life and future.  He must have been hanging on every word.  Then suddenly and without notice a cold muddy pact was placed over his eyes with instructions from Jesus.  It must have jolted him when he experienced that messy sensation. What was the man’s response?  He fully believed Jesus for his healing and obeyed His instructions to go… he went…sight was restored…a life was changed…and God was glorified.  Jesus had to make a messy mud covering to usher in healing.

What in your life seems messy right now?  What blind spots are in your future that seem dark and fearful?  You hear the conversations of others talking about you, but you cannot see Jesus.  You wonder if He is engaged and working in this season.  You move closer to the Word to get answers and suddenly the situation seems to get a little muddier and scarier.  But then you remember that Christ came to give sight to the blind and hope to the despaired.  You hear your Savior calling your name and working to clean up the mess of your situation.  For a while you must stay in your mess and display the manner in which God is working in your life.  Then one beautiful day you will get your instruction from the Father who was there all along, working in your life to show others how faithful you have been. 

Friend, if you find yourself in a difficult time it could be so God can display His works in your life.  Be encouraged that when we trust God in the muddy messes and go with Him we will find our future.  We cannot forget however that the blind man still had to walk in darkness for a while to gain his sight.