< Back

Read: John 9:1-7
Listen: John 9

“Go,” he told him, “Wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. John 9:7

Jesus and his disciples pass a man who is blind from birth. Blindness means total dependence—no steady income, little dignity and isolation. Many believe suffering like this is a punishment for sins, either the man’s or his parents’. Jesus rejects this idea. Instead of offering an explanation, Jesus acts. He bends down, makes mud from dirt and saliva, and puts it on the man’s eyes. Then Jesus tells him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam, about a half mile away. The man is not healed right away. In fact, things seem worse. Walking that distance requires help, effort and courage. Still, the man obeys. He trusts Jesus without knowing what will happen. Only after he washes does he receive his sight.

This story challenges how we think about suffering. We often want reasons and quick answers. But Jesus is not interested in simple formulas. He is after our trust. He invites us to follow him, not only when life is clear and comfortable, but when it is confusing and painful. Sometimes, obedience does not bring immediate relief. Sometimes, trusting Jesus feels harder before it feels better. Yet, God is still at work, even when we cannot see it. Jesus calls us to trust him in the dark places—in struggling marriages, with wayward children, during job loss or in lingering grief. He does not ask us to understand everything, only to follow him.

TODAY: Pray: Lord, help me trust you with all my heart. When life is joyful, keep me grateful. When life is heavy, help me hold on to you. Give me faith to walk forward, even when I cannot see the way. Amen.