Each year I pick a word or theme for the year.  Rather, God picks the word or theme for me and I wait for the lessons.  Coming into 2017, I only kept hearing one word over and over.  Miracle.  “Hmmm, that is a bizarre choice.”  I wasn’t really sure what to do with that one.  However, I knew this was the word for me this year, so I claimed it. Miracle.  “Okay God, ready to see where we go with this.”

I woke up expectant on January 1st.  This is the year of “Miracles” right?  I can’t wait to see what happens.  Well, that day was a hard slap in the face if I’m being honest.  I awoke to realize that my husband had lost rank by 1 point.  Those in our company understand how much of a hit that was.  I, of course, was super disappointed.  That faded almost immediately because as I was scrolling facebook, I was hit with another hard fact that had happened overnight.  An old high school friend had been killed by a drunk driver just a few miles from our home the night before.  We weren’t close in high school, but I had known her forever and she was someone I truly admired for her boldness and spunky personality.  Her two babies were in the car, as well as their former foreign exchange student.  Anger, sadness, confusion.  All the emotions were what I was experiencing.  As the week went on, trying my hardest to prepare for a corporate event, Mandy never left my  mind.  Where was the  miracle?  A drunk driver going 116 mph?  Tragedy was all my eyes could see.

Last Saturday during our Super Saturday event, we took a brief break.  During that break, we learned of another tragedy.  One involving several in our Plexus family.  A tragic accident had claimed the life of a 16 year old girl and her sister and dear friend were severely injured.  To say we are heartbroken for the family is an understatement.  Again, heartache, sadness, confusion.  How has all of this tragedy occurred in just the past week?  Where are the miracles???  This is what my brain has been saying on repeat all week.  So much loss.  So much heartache.

In all this, God has revealed something to me.  There can be miracles in the midst of tragedy.  We just have to be willing to see them.  In Mandy’s accident, it is a miracle that anyone survived. The fact that her two daughters lived is such a miracle.  The fact that a community came together to raise money for a father in Vietnam desperate to be by his daughters side as she fights for her life, that is a miracle.  It does not diminish the pain to see the miracle.  It does not take away the tragedy.  In the tragedy with Ally, we have seen revival.  At last count, over 64 people and counting have come to the Lord.  All because of the bold faith of a 16 year old girl.  A faith that is speaking loudly even after she is no longer here.  The fact that her sister and friend are still here, that’s a miracle.  That her family, in their heartache is begging people to share the gospel? That is a miracle.  The fact that a group of people, whose main connection is that they joined a health and wellness company for a variety of reasons, that these people are now joined together speaking even more boldly than ever about their faith, that’s a miracle.  That we have that common thread?  That is not an accident.

I’ve been challenged more in this past week than I have in a long time.  Each day there are miracles, even the hard gut punch days. Are we able to see them?  I want to see them.  I want to look for them.  Here is the biggest miracle and if you don’t know this truth, I pray that this will impact you.  We don’t have to live this life hopeless.  We all fall short, daily.  There is no condemnation in Christ.  He knew that we would.  He made a plan for that long before any of us were born.  He sent his son FOR us. FOR you. For me.  He is FOR you.  He desires to hold you in your hurt. His son died and rose again for you. For me.  He wants a relationship with you.  There will still be tragedy.  There will still be heartache.  Having a relationship with the Lord doesn’t exempt any of us from that.  But it gives you a safe place to fall, it gives you a future.

I’m only 11 days into the year of leaning into what the Lord has to teach me about miracles.  I’m sure I have a lot to learn.  The lessons so far have been unexpected.   Next time I start to ask “where are the miracles?”, I’m going to pause and look around me.  They might not be in the form I hope for, but I firmly believe they are right in front of me.