Luck or providence ?

Saturday September 11, 2021

Luck or providence ?

Searching the Scriptures

It was not that he or his parents had sinned, but it was so that the works of God might be revealed in him. John 9.3

In the TV movie You will live my daughter, a successful French couple learns that their 3-month-old baby has an orphan genetic disease ; husband and wife carry the gene responsible for Sanfilippo syndrome. There was one in 135,000 chance (or bad luck) that they would pass it on to their child. The little research done on this pathology, which leads to the early death of the child (around 10-12 years old) after a slow degeneration, had come to nothing for lack of funding.

This mother stands up and fights to save her daughter and the 4,000 children affected by this disease around the world. She's going to "move the mountains" of "it's impossible" or "it will be too late."

Today, an international study could soon lead to the commercialization of the first gene therapy against this disease. The achievement of this woman who knew how to "transform" her bad luck is worthy of being saluted.

The Bible teaches us that our life is not the fruit of good or bad luck, nor of fate, but of providence, that superior force - God - who leads the circumstances that affect us with wisdom and acts for our good, tiny.

The disciples of Jesus wonder why the man they have just met is blind : could it be because he was unlucky enough to suffer the consequences of his parents' sin ? But Jesus will astonish them : his illness is there to manifest the glory of God.

You may think that you weren't born on the right side of the sea, with the right skin color, or in the right family... This is not about bemoaning your condition. God was not caught off guard when you were born. He was already watching over you.

But he expects you to turn what you call your "bad luck" to his glory.

The most encouraging passages in the Bible were written under dramatic circumstances. But the authors knew how to "transform" their suffering, permitted by providence, into hope. For centuries the children of God have found powerful comfort in these verses.

Listen to the voice of God

Let’s take the time to listen to what God means. Maybe the ordeal you are facing seems overwhelming. Let the Lord show you how to handle this situation.

Praying is easy. Talk to God as you would your closest friend. God loves you and he can hear everything. Here is an example of a prayer : "I praise you, Lord, because all the details of my life are not unknown to you and you make all things - even the most difficult - work for my good."

Praise God

To praise God is to show him our gratitude. What are your subjects of recognition today?  Take a moment to thank the Lord.

Act today

Now dig deeper into what you have received. What can you do to apply what God has told you ? Write down the concrete actions you can take.

Honor the Lord

Our route for the day comes to an end. Let us pray together to honor our God.

"Thank you, Lord, for watching over me daily, even though I am not often aware of it. Yours be the reign, the power and the glory, amen !"

Catherine Gotte Avdjian

Source (The Thought of the Day)