“And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”
(Acts 3:9-10 ESV)
Have you ever asked God for a miracle? For miraculous healing, rescue from a dangerous situation, or provision when all other options had run out?
Do You Believe God Can Do Miracles?
We pray to God, but sometimes we still doubt that a miracle could really happen to us. Those things only happen in the Bible or in far-off countries where missionaries are. Right? Does God even do miracles anymore? Perhaps the better question is this: Are we open to God performing miracles in our lives and expectant that God can and will?
In Acts 3:1-10 we read about a man who was lame from birth (he couldn’t walk) and would spend his days begging for money. He stopped Jesus’ disciples, Peter and John, and when he stopped them, as usual, he asked for money and not healing.
As the man did not know Peter and John, he did not know that they served Jesus and that Jesus was ready to do a miracle for him. But through this man’s story, and Jesus’ initiative through his disciples to heal this man, we learn that God is ready to do miracles on our behalf.
Maybe this man had given up on believing that a miracle was possible, or maybe he never believed it could happen to him.
Friend, how often has that been us? If you’re like me, you have asked God to help you get by and/or survive a situation, but you haven’t asked him to do miraculous things.
Why Does God Do Miracles?
Mark 5:25–34 tells the story of a woman had so much faith that she believed she would be healed, just by touching Jesus. That is the kind of faith the Lord desires us to have! At the same time, I do want to offer a word of caution to avoid confusion or discouragement. There are some who will say God hasn’t performed a miracle for you, because you don’t have enough faith: That is not what I am saying! That’s not biblical!
What I am saying is this: God always answers us but not always how or when we expect. He might even do more than we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20) for his glory! The purpose of miracles is not for God to be a vending machine—making our lives better. The purpose of miracles is to give all glory, honor, power, and praise to God.
If we look back at Acts 3:9, the Word says that everyone was praising God after the man was healed. Miracles lead us to worship God.
Artist, Anna Golden, has a song called “Still Small Voice” in which she sings, “I’m not here to chase the miracle; I’m here to chase the Maker.” Miracles are so great, not simply because they are incredible, but because they reveal God’s power and character to us.
Where Do You Need a Miracle?
In what area of your life do you need a miracle—for God to do the seemingly impossible? Ask God to do that incredible work that he might be glorified in and through your life as he answers you! Ask God to give you faith and hopeful expectation as you wait on him.
We trust God with the outcome of our prayers, knowing that God is not beholden to our every request for a miracle. But we also need to remember that God loves to move powerfully on our behalf for our joy and his glory, like he did for the lame man in Acts.
Dear God, you know my heart and my needs. You know the things that keep me up at night. God, I am trusting and believing that you can and will come through for me. Help me to be open to how you will answer (especially ways that are different than I expect). Lord, I don’t want to focus so hard on the answer I want or expect that I miss seeing you or your miraculous in my life. Lord, help me to live out Daniel 3:18—truly believing that you can, but if not, believing you are still good. Help me to see you and glorify you in all things. Amen.