As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:1-3)
We are generally prone into believing that sin and pain, injury and handicap are linked together, that human pain is the result of human sin. While Jesus did not deny the fact that there is such a link, sometimes it is, but He makes clear that suffering is not always directly traceable to personal sin. Jesus declares, that the disability of the man is not a function of the man’s sin nor is it the parent’s sin. Why, then, was he born blind? That the works of God might be made manifest in him, is Jesus’ response. That gives a positive reason for this kind of affliction. It is an opportunity-not a disaster, but an opportunity-for certain things to be manifested in such a person’s life, and in the lives of people who come in contact with that person, things that would otherwise never be brought out.
Fanny Crosby (1820-1915), a blind American lyricist, poet, mission worker and composer, was one of the most hymnists in history, writing more than 8,000 hymns and gospel songs with more than 100 million copies printed. Her best-known songs include “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour”, Blessed Assurance”, “Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home”, “Praise Him, Praise Him”, “Rescue the Perishing”, and “To God Be the Glory”.She was not born blind, she was made blind by a careless doctor who scarred her eyes with hot mustard plasters, blinding her at the age of six weeks.
On her blindness, she said “It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.” (Wikipedia).
The Scriptures declare that we are living in a broken world, a fragmented world, a world which is not what it once was and is not what it shall be. For the present, we are afflicted with pains, hurts, injuries, difficulties and hardships. We may not be physically disabled but we all as a matter of fact have disabilities. What do you see and say concerning your own ‘disability’? Fanny Crosby set a remarkable and encouraging example of how to see and face our unpleasant circumstance with joy and determination. Learn not to live in pity and guilt but rather to develop inner qualities of peace and joy regardless of the enormity of our situation and show a tremendous strength of spirit that is able to take on challenges and endure difficulties that the intended glory of God may be seen in our lives. Remember, that He came into the world to give light in our darkness, lead through bewildering paths, and bring us to the place of cleansing and of opened eyes.