Miracles - extraordinary and ordinary
And so Henry and Ruth arrived in Liberia, a very rural country at the time, and began to do mission work there. And while there, they saw some amazing miracles.
Soon after they arrived, sadly one of the other missionaries in a different town died. Malaria was a common problem there, and a lot of the missionaries would die of Malaria. And the runners brought news of Esther's death and requested that Henry come back to conduct the funeral service.
An Obvious Miracle
And so off Henry went, but as they approached the river, they realized it was going to be very difficult for them to get across. And he said "during that time of the year he normally would never even attempt it to cross that river. But he had a job to do and he needed to get there. And so he said he walked down to the stream, realized he would never be able to get across the raging torrent and prayed that God would go before him.
And he said the next thing he knew, he was walking into the yard of that mission station. His clothes weren’t wet. None of the other people were with him. They only reached the town many hours later. He had no idea how he got there, far ahead of all the locals who were to try to cross an impossibly raging river.
He says he believes it was the Lord carrying him by the Spirit, much as Philip was transported in Acts chapter 8.
Miracles in Disguise
God is a God of miracles. God is a God of great miracles who makes a way in spectacular fashion sometimes.
But notice this, sometimes the miracles are not as spectacular. Because on their way back, no such miracle occurred. No such supernatural miracle occurred. But this group, including some very sick people, had to cross this raging river, struggling across and making sure that they kept their head above water so they didn't drown.
But he says they eventually just managed to get over before the vine they were using to pull themselves snapped. And he said “if we had not been given supernatural strength, we could never have made it.”
Also a miracle, that God helped him in that way.
Divine Strength Within
Sometimes miracles are spectacular and wild. People flying through the air and arriving in places without knowing how.
But you know what's also a miracle for friends? The strength that God gives us to get through difficulties. They crossed that river coming back with the strength of God, his power helping them along.
I wonder how many of us have got stories of God helping us through, giving us supernatural strength to get through difficult situations. That's a miracle right there. Struggling along and getting godly strength is miraculous!
Don't only look for the great big wild miracles, but recognize that sometimes putting one foot in front of the other takes the supernatural strength of God.
He is working miracles in our lives! Believe it! Hold on to that today in faith!
