The “Becauses” of Life

“You know that it was because of a bodily illness that I first preached the gospel to you…” — Galatians 4:13

There are certain words in Scripture that seem small until the Holy Spirit shines a spotlight on them. This week, one of those words for me is “because”.

Paul tells the Galatian believers that they first heard the gospel because of his bodily infirmity. Think about that for a moment.

Paul didn’t arrive in Galatia because it was on his carefully planned itinerary. He didn’t go because he had targeted the region for ministry. He ended up there because he was sick.

What looked like an interruption was actually an invitation.

God took Paul’s weakness and turned it into someone else’s blessing. The very thing that could have sidelined Paul’s ministry became the reason an entire region heard the good news of Jesus Christ and his marvelous message of grace.

I wonder how many of God’s greatest works begin with a “because.”

Because a door closed.

Because plans changed.

Because our health failed.

Because something we desperately wanted was taken away.

We usually pray for God to remove the “because.” Yet sometimes He uses it to redirect our lives into His perfect will.

Donna and I have been living one of those “because” stories.

For quite some time, I’ve dealt with severe ringing in my ears, along with pain and balance issues from my back surgery. Along with it came episodes of vertigo that made certain environments almost impossible to endure. At Restore Church, the combination of the bright LED screen and the volume of the worship music became more than uncomfortable—it became overwhelming. Instead of drawing me into worship, I found myself fighting to simply make it through the service.

That was heartbreaking.

Restore had been home. Leaving wasn’t something Donna and I were looking for. In fact, if my circumstances had been different, we probably would have stayed.

But because of my physical limitations, we found ourselves asking the Lord what He wanted us to do.

Sometimes our infirmities become God’s compass.

As we prayed, something unexpected happened. The Lord made it clear that it was time to leave Restore.

Even more than that, He led Donna and me to Inheritance Church. What began as an unplanned transition soon became something beautiful. The Lord quietly but unmistakably spoke to our hearts: “This is your new home.”

Looking back, I can see that if my ears hadn’t been ringing… if the vertigo hadn’t been triggered… if worship hadn’t become so physically difficult… Donna and I may never have taken that step.

Our “because” became God’s direction.

That doesn’t mean I celebrate the ringing in my ears or how long it is taking to get my balance back . I still pray for healing. Paul himself prayed for his own affliction to be removed. There is nothing wrong with asking God to heal what hurts.

But while I’m praying for healing, I’m also learning to trust His leading.

Sometimes the very thing we ask God to take away is the thing He’s using to move us where He wants us to be.

Paul’s illness led him to Galatia.

My infirmity led Donna and me to Inheritance Church.

Neither story began the way we would have written it. But both remind me that God is never surprised by the detours of life. In His hands, interruptions become appointments, disappointments become redirections, and weaknesses become opportunities for His grace to shine.

So today, instead of asking, “Lord, why?”

I am asking, “Lord, make us instruments of your love and grace where your “because” has taken us.”

I am also encouraged by the fact that Paul’s infirmity did not hinder him from having a great influence in the church in Galatia… and the world we live in today with his message of grace. Neither will I let my current physical struggles stop me from fulfilling God’s purpose in where he leads me.

You may discover that your greatest blessing is waiting on the other side of your “because.”