You probably know the story: Saul, a notorious persecutor of Christians, was on his way to Damascus to collect up all the Christian Jews in order to bring them to Jerusalem for punishment. Along the way, he has an encounter with the ascended Christ, who comes to him in a flash of light. Those who are with Saul can hear the voice of Christ, but can see nothing. Jesus asks Saul why he is persecuting him, and tells him to enter the city to await further instructions. The impact of this encounter leaves Saul blind. Saul's sight is not restored until a disciple named Ananias comes and lays hands on Saul. Scales fall from his eyes, his sight is restored and he is baptized as the Christian Paul. Immediately the transformed Paul proclaims Jesus as the Son of God in the synagogues of Damascus.
For Paul, this encounter with the living Christ has immediate effects. In a matter of a few days, he morphs from a persecutor of the followers of Christ to a vocal Christian proclaimer. Few of us have such dramatic, immediately life changing encounters, but many of us can identify an event that changed the direction of our life.
Often this transformation arises out of some unplanned happening, such as an illness or an accident. Sometimes in the aftermath of the illness or the accident, an individual has time to pray, reflect and look at his or her life. This may provide an opportunity to listen to the Spirit; perhaps hearing for the first time a voice that had been blocked by the frenetic activity of daily life. Sometimes the life changing direction may arise out of the beginning a new spiritual discipline, which provides time and space for the risen Christ to act in our lives.
God looks for opportunities in our lives to allow our faith to deepen and grow. When we are floundering because of some unfortunate turn of events in our lives, the Spirit may "intercede with sighs too deep for words" (Romans 8:26). When we begin practicing a spiritual discipline, again the Spirit uses the opportunity to move us. If an illness or accident strikes us, God may use that event to transform us.
God does not cause tragedies or suffering in our lives, but God may use these events and turn them for good in our lives
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