Miracles

Recently, in our Sunday School class, part of our discussion was about miracles. Do they happen today? (YES. Yes they do!)

I have actually thought a lot about this. I had this similar question posed to me by a friend of mine once--about how miracles seemed to occur on a larger scale is scriptural times, but don't seem to now. 

I think miracles happen every day, some on a larger scale, some on a smaller scale.

Big miracles that we know about in history/scripture:

• God, the Father, and Jesus appearing to Joseph Smith when he was 14 years old (read about it here).
• Jesus healing the sick and disbled, raising the dead, and feeding 5000 people with 5 loaves and two fish (all of which have accounts in the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).
• What about the atonement? I'd say that was pretty amazing--a feat which only a person who was part human and part God could not only do for all of us, but also endure such an intense magnitude of pain.
• The resurrection--never in history has anything like that happened before or since the resurrection of Christ--dying, and then rising again after three days.
• Multiple occurences of angels appearing in the scriptures.
• Moses parting of the Red Sea. 

You might be thinking, sure, but what about today? Do miracles happen today?

I think there are miracles all around us, some of which we take for granted, some of which we dismiss as lucky, or a coincidence, like:

• Healthy babies born every day. With all of the intricacies of the human body (organs, mucsles, nerves, brain, bones, etc.) there is so much that could go wrong, but usually much more goes right.
• Premature babies. I know of many babies that have been born between 20 and 30 weeks--about 3 months early--and they have lived. Not without trials and tribulations, but they have made it through. Miracles.
• Plants and flowers--have you ever noticed how intricate they are? Do you really think it was "by chance" these came about and grew as perfectly and beautiful as they did?
• What about all of the different species--animals, insects, spiders (now, I have heebie jeebies)? There are so many different forms and they are each so unique. Big bang theory? Not a chance.
• I think of all of the miracles that happen during natural or other disasters. Babies that have been found miles from where they were lost--hungry, but unscathed. People who have survived in horrible circumstances. Lives that have been preserved. 
• I personally have witnessed the hand of God in healing the sick and afflicted through Priesthood blessings. 
• People surviving terrible diseases like cancer. Defying odds.
• How many times have you seen what looks like a horrific accident, yet the people survived?

Does an angel have to appear to denote a miracle?  Does it have to be something that does not happen every day? I don't think so. Look around you.

There are very real miracles all around us, daily. Look for them. Seek them out. You will begin to notice them more and more. Start here:

YOU are a miracle.

You ARE a MIRACLE.

What else?

I have 6 children--each a beautiful and wonderful miracle. If you have kids, look in their eyes. Could such a creation be merely science? No way!! Sweet miracles.

Go outside--feel the warmth of the sun, feel the breeze, see the bees and the birds, the trees and grass and flowers. Hear the sounds.

Taste different fruits and vegetables--not only are they miracles, but so is your sense of taste! 

I love the song, "My Heavenly Father Loves Me." It talks about all of the things God has created for us, and how it denotes that He loves Us. I also believe these are all miracles-- ways he pours out His love upon us.  You can listen/watch on Youtube this song put to pictures, and of course, sang by my favorite group, Mercy River. 

God is a God of miracles, and I think that those who fail to recognize miracles and see God's hand in all things, are in a sad state of unbelief, and thus will have a lack of miracles in their life--but perhaps only because they refuse to see and acknowledge them.

Could you argue that some of these things have logical, scientific explanations? Yes, but don't you also think God uses such natural laws to do His work? Yep. What I have written may not be popular in today's society, but it doesn't make it any less true.

Study it, search for it, find the miracles for yourself. God is a God of miralces who loves us and is aware of us and our needs. We can converse with God on a daily basis through prayer. What a miracle that is--right?! 

© Wendy 2012