“There is a two-part miracle in the Gospels that I find fascinating and encouraging.”

A thought by Mark Batterson from his book, Double Blessing (p. 96). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

The story is found in Mark 2:25-28.  That’s in the New Testament of the Bible.

Mark Batterson says, “Jesus laid hands on a blind man, and this man experienced a partial miracle. His sight was restored, but people looked like trees walking. So, he was still myopic—let’s call it 20/100. That is where many of us doubt God instead of praising God for a partial miracle. We give up because we didn’t get the whole miracle, but some miracles happen in stages! Those are the moments when we need to double down in prayer!”

Mark continues, “If you want to experience the whole miracle, try praising God for partial miracles! What’s a partial miracle? It’s a small step in the right direction! In this instance, it’s going from legally blind to 20/100. Too often we withhold our praise for partial miracles, and then we wonder why the full miracle never happens. Why not praise God every step of the way, even if it’s two steps forward and one step back!”

Cadillac Mountain

Mark then says, “About a month before God healed my asthma, I climbed Cadillac Mountain on Mount Desert Island in Maine. It’s certainly not the tallest mountain I’ve ever climbed, but I managed to do so without the use of my inhaler. For me, that was miraculous! In fact, I went four days without my inhaler, which may have been the longest span of my life at that point. I actually wondered if the Lord had healed me, but then I had to take a puff of my inhaler on day five. Was that discouraging? Absolutely! But instead of bemoaning the fact that I had to take my inhaler on day five, I decided to praise God that I went four days without it. I shared that partial miracle with our congregation a few weeks before challenging them to pray the bravest prayer. In retrospect, I believe that publicly praising God for that partial miracle was one small step—one giant leap—toward the double blessing of two healed lungs.

“Whole miracle or partial miracle, bless God.”

That is so good, isn’t it? 

Yes, yes!