Turning Trials into Blessings: The Inspiring Story of the Blind Man (John 9:1-12)

This blog post is about how we should view trials in our lives and how this concept is illustrated in the life of the blind man whom Christ healed.

Have you ever asked why you are suffering right now? Could it be possible that there is something good that can come from our trials? Are there lessons we can learn from the troubles we face in our lives?

Turning Trials into Blessings- The Inspiring Story of the Blind Man (John 9-1-12)

There is an interesting story that we can find in John 9:1-12. It is about the man who was born blind from birth. Now, imagine if you have been a person who does not have the sense of sight? How hard could it be?

You can’t play the same way the other kids play. You eat your food in darkness. You don’t see the beautiful colors around you. You don’t know how it feels for your breath to be taken away when you see a beautiful and awe-inspiring scenery.

How many times could have the parents of the blind man asked God, “Why did this happen to our son? What did we do to bring this upon him? Have we been bad parents who have been punished by God?

Definitely, in the perspective of other people, the blind man was cursed. The blind man suffers a great trial that no one wanted to bear.

Maybe, while reading about this man, you could have said, “What a tragic life.”

The blind man and other people around him tried to make sense out of this dilemma. The disciples of Yahshua (Jesus Christ) asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind (verse 2)?”

But Yahshua corrected their mindset. He said, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed to him” (verse 3).

Did you grasp that? Yahshua was telling His disciples that there is a PURPOSE to his suffering. It served a larger purpose!

In the minds of the people around the man, his blindness was a curse – a trial with no purpose! But to the Messiah, his blindness was a blessing – a GIFT that ultimately brought the blind man on the foot of the Creator of the vast universe.

At this point, it is pure and straightforward: his blindness led him to the Greatest Physician in the world! The Physician who does not just heal us of our physical ailments, but also of our spiritual maladies! What a wonderful way to turn trials into blessings!

From the time the blind man met the Messiah, he will never be the same again. This man stood up and gave one of the most amazing defenses of Yahshua ever recorded in the Bible! As a result, this man has received more than just physical sight. He obtained the EYE OF FAITH!

To top it all up, the healed blind man was used by God to be a witness not just to the hard-hearted Pharisees, but to the whole world!

So the next time you encounter a trial in your life, believe the words of James (Jacob was his real name, by the way) when he said:

My brethren, COUNT IT ALL JOY when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2).

There is really a reason for all of us to be joyful when we face challenges in our lives. There is definitely a reason for all of us to thank God both in the good and the bad. Remember, that diamonds are made under pressure. In the same way, our faith is strengthened through trials.

So keep going. Keep the faith and fight the good fight. God will be with you every step of the way!


Here’s a great book about suffering and how to turn it into a blessing. The book’s title is “God Will Use This for Good: Surviving the Mess of Life” by Max Lucado. More than 800 Amazon reviewers gave it a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

God Will Use This for Good Surviving the Mess of Life.JPGBook description:

When tragedy strikes, people desperately search for answers. Believers and unbelievers alike find themselves turning to God. Best-selling author and pastor Max Lucado points to the only real answer to tragedy and crisis: Prayer. In For the Tough Times, Lucado helps us understand how to pray despite our doubt and fear. (Get your copy here.)

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