Life Sentence - Deaf, Part 2

God had a very amazing conversation with the ancient Jewish leader Moses in a very remote spot of desert in the Middle East long ago: "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord?" (Exodus 4:11)

One day Jesus encountered a man who was born blind (John 9). Jesus' followers asked Him, "Teacher, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

Jesus answers clearly and directly: "Neither this man nor his parents sinned ... but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." (vs. 2)

Robert is a man who was born deaf. He has faced a similar question: "Are you deaf because your mother had German measles before you were born?"

Robert is a man of true faith, and his answer is equally clear: "I was not born deaf because my mother had measles. I am deaf because God made me this way for His own reasons." Robert believes that God has a plan for his life that includes deafness. Robert's favorite verse of Scripture is Exodus 4:11: "Who makes him deaf? ... Is it not I, the Lord?"

Robert cannot hear. Robert has never heard a singe sound, but Robert hears music in his heart put there by the One Who created him. Robert knows and trusts God to be good all the time! Robert believes that God has a particular purpose for Robert in God's great kingdom particularly because Robert is deaf!

Think about it! Could it be that God has intentionally allowed some of those He loves in a special way to face unique challenges so that God's Kingdom and His church will be stronger and more beautiful as those broken places on each key click (See previous blog - "The Key to Brokenness" posted on April 2.) into their particular place of service and significance as God paints His-Story across the canvas of life and time? Robert says it is so!

In a really beautiful sense, Robert is living out restoration in his "brokenness" as he faithfully fulfills God's purpose for him.

There is a wonderful promise for Robert and you and me in Zephaniah 3:17: "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Robert may not hear anything else, but his heart hears God singing over him and it's a beautiful song!