When Fanny Crosby was six weeks old, she caught cold and developed inflammation of the eyes. To treat her discharge, mustard poultices were applied that damaged her optic nerves and blinded her. Her father died when she was six months old. Her mother Mercy Crosby and Eunice Paddock who gave her Christian foundation. God used her to write 8000 hymns and gospel songs. Her best-known songs are: “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour”, “Blessed Assurance”, “Praise Him, Praise Him”, “Rescue the Perishing” and “To God Be the Glory.” Yes, God used her despite her blindness to inspire, bless, encourage and console millions around the world.
Disciples asked the Lord the reason for the blindness of a man born blind: his sins or his parents’ sin. (John 9:2) That time they had four concepts: Pre-incarnation: That person pre-existed and suffer in this birth. Re-incarnation – the person has reincarnated after previous existence as some living being. As a baby, the man sinned in mother’s womb. It is punishment for future sin. However, it was a birth defect, that could have happened to any person. In the fallen, imperfect world, such things could happen.
Lord simply said that the works of God or glory of God could be displayed in him. (John 9:3) Lord spit saliva in the dust, mixed clay and applied in his eyes. Then he asked him to go and wash in Pool of Siloam. He was miraculously healed. He declared: One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25)
God works in different ways. This man was healed miraculously. However, Fanny Crosby was used by God, with the disability of blindness to be a global blessing. In both cases, God’s glory was in display. Humans cannot dictate what or how God should act. Questions like why God did not heal Fanny Crosby is hypothetical. Instead, discerning God’s plan and to surrender to His purpose is wisdom and that reveals God’s power and glory.
Do I discern God’s purpose even in adverse situations?