How to See Miracles in Your Life
In life, we often face moments where we feel desperate for a breakthrough. Whether it's the need for a better job, more money, healing, or help navigating a difficult relationship, we yearn for something beyond our control – a miracle. But what if miracles aren't just grand, earth-shattering events? What if they are woven into the very fabric of our everyday struggles, waiting to be recognized?
Many of us tend to define "miracle" as a sudden, dramatic intervention that immediately resolves our problems. While these certainly happen, we often overlook the subtle, veiled miracles that God orchestrates in our lives, especially during our toughest times. Understanding these less obvious miracles is key to cultivating a heart of faith and experiencing deeper spiritual growth.
Lessons from Elijah: A Miraculous Journey
To truly grasp this concept, let's explore the life of Elijah, a prophet who lived about 900 years before Christ. His story, found in First Kings chapters 17-19, is a masterclass in how God works through difficult circumstances to reveal His power and build unwavering faith.
The Context: A Kingdom in Crisis
Elijah's ministry began during the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, arguably the most wicked rulers in Israel's history. They aggressively promoted the worship of Baal, a pagan idol, forsaking the one true God. In response to their idolatry, God sent Elijah to confront Ahab with a dire prophecy: it would not rain for years until Elijah declared it so. This curse lasted three and a half years, plunging the nation into a severe drought.
"As surely as God lives, the God of Israel, whom I worship and serve, there will be no dew or rain for the next few years unless I give the word!" (1 Kings 17:1, paraphrased)
This pronouncement enraged Ahab and Jezebel, who immediately put a bounty on Elijah's head. Imagine the prophet's fear, being hunted by the most powerful couple in the land. Yet, God had a plan for Elijah, a plan that unfolded through three distinct phases, each teaching profound lessons about faith and the nature of miracles.
Phase 1: The Ravine - A Time of Obscurity
God's first command to Elijah was to hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan River. Here, facing a death threat, Elijah was to drink from the brook and be fed by ravens. This wasn't a glamorous assignment. Elijah, likely an extrovert, was cut off from all he knew – friends, social interaction, the limelight. For a year, he lived in solitude, eating food brought by "unclean" birds, likely scavenged and not exactly gourmet.
Why the Wilderness? God's Purposeful Seclusion
This period of isolation, though uncomfortable, was crucial. God had great plans for Elijah, but first, the prophet needed time alone with Him. This was a time to:
1. Narrow Focus: Elijah needed to focus solely on God, developing his inner life.
2. Build Reliance: He learned to depend entirely on God for daily provision, not on external circumstances or human connections.
3. Protection: The ravine served as a safe haven from Jezebel’s assassins.
Many of us go through similar "ravine" periods – times of dryness, loneliness, and seeming stagnation. Our careers might stall, relationships might falter, or finances might dwindle. It feels like a rut, yet even in this obscurity, God is supernaturally providing, teaching, and protecting. The ravine itself, though unpleasant, was a veiled miracle.
The Drying Brook: A Divine Redirection
Then, things got "worse": the brook dried up. This seemed like a catastrophe, but it was another intentional act of God. Brooks dry up for three critical reasons:
1. To Keep Us from Depending on the Brook (Not God): It’s easy to put our trust in the immediate source of provision (job, health, friends) rather than the ultimate provider. When the source dries up, we're reminded where our true security lies.
2. To Move Us to a Better Place: God never intended for Elijah to stay in the ravine forever. The drying brook was a signal to move to the next stage of His plan. What feels like a setback is often a divine redirection to something better.
3. To Prove He Has Not Forgotten You: If God didn't care, He would have left Elijah in the dried-up ravine. Instead, this uncomfortable shift was proof of His active attention and care, preparing Elijah for the next phase.
Consider how often something you thought was "bad" (a job loss, a broken relationship) turned out to be the catalyst for something infinitely better. These are veiled miracles, designed to deepen our faith and prepare us for what's next.
Phase 2: Zarephath - The Path of Insecurity
From the ravine, God directed Elijah to Zarephath, a town over 100 miles away, right in the heartland of Baal worship and Jezebel’s hometown. And who was to take care of him? A poor widow. This journey was fraught with challenges:
Dangerous Travel: Walking through enemy territory, a wanted man.
Extreme Famine: No water for days on end.
Illogical Provider: A destitute widow, who could barely feed herself, much less a prophet.
The Nature of Miracles: Unexpected and Uncomfortable
This phase highlights two crucial truths about miracles:
The path can be uncomfortable. Elijah walked through dangerous, famine-stricken lands. Growth often happens outside our comfort zone. Embrace discomfort as a sign of progress.
The source is unexpected. A poor, Gentile widow became his miraculous provider. God's ways are higher than ours. Stop trying to figure out how He'll move. He uses unlikely vehicles for His glory.
They require faith and obedience. Both Elijah and the widow had to act on God's illogical command. Miracles aren't triggered by need alone, but by a combination of need, faith, and obedience to God's (often illogical) commands.
Upon arrival, Elijah found the widow gathering sticks, preparing her last meal for herself and her son before they starved. His command? "First, make a small loaf for me from what you have... Then cook something for yourself and your son." This was beyond illogical; it was seemingly cruel. Yet, Elijah, speaking God's promise, said her jar of flour and jug of oil would not run dry until the rain returned.
And she obeyed. This act of radical obedience, shared by both Elijah and the widow, unlocked a continuous miracle of provision. Zarephath, meaning "refinery," was a place of intense heat and pressure, purifying and shaping their faith to be used by God in unimaginable ways.
Recognizing Miracles in Your Life Today
The story of Elijah teaches us that miracles aren't just the flashy displays of power, but also the subtle, refining processes. The "problems" Elijah faced—the isolated ravine, the dangerous journey, the scarcity at the widow's house—were all veiled miracles, preparing him for greater things, like raising the dead or calling fire from heaven. Everything happening in your life, even the difficult parts, is God at work.
How to Cultivate an Eye for Miracles:
1. Open Your Eyes to All Kinds of Miracles: Don't limit your definition of a miracle to only the "good" and desired outcomes. Recognize the hand of God in protection, provision, and preparation, even when it feels uncomfortable.
2. Embrace Faith in Every Season: God is teaching you faith in every location and every phase of your life. Whether in the cold, lonely ravine or the hot, pressure-filled refinery, choose to praise and trust, regardless of circumstances.
3. Exercise Enduring Faith God's Superior Plan: Even when you feel forgotten or abandoned, God is attentive. He has promised never to leave or forsake you. Your current situation, no matter how dire, is known to Him, and He has good plans.
Faith is the currency with God. It's built when we stand on His word, even when circumstances make no sense. It's believing that miracles, both monumental and mundane, are continually making our lives blessed. Don't be blind to God's love and care simply because things are difficult or delayed. He knows the perfect timing to move you from your current struggle to your next breakthrough.
Conclusion
You are surrounded by miracles, often veiled and less glamorous than we imagine. By opening our eyes to these subtle interventions and exercising faith through uncomfortable circumstances, we position ourselves not just to receive, but to truly see the abundant, miraculous life God intends for us. Every challenge is a stepping stone; every difficulty, a character builder. Trust the process, trust the Refiner, and prepare to witness the extraordinary in your seemingly ordinary life.
Ready to start seeing the miracles in your life? Reflect on your current challenges and ask God to reveal His purpose within them.
