Do You Believe in Miracles?

Kristina Talbot shares how the recent Olympic Games helped her rethink her notion of results.   

As summer wraps up, our family took one last break and watched the Olympics for a couple weeks. Throughout my life, I have watched the games and recall iconic moments with emotion. For example, I cry every time I see the clip of Jim Redmond running out onto the track to help his son Derek finish the race after he became injured in the 1992 games, and I get chills every time I see Michael Phelps go wild after the breathtaking relay finish from Jason Lezak in the 2008 games that set up his phenomenal record-breaking Olympics.

These Olympics gave us Katie Ledecky, Gabby Thomas, and Simone Biles as well as my kids’ new favorite Clark Kent-turned-gymnast superstar, Stephen Nedoroscik. My all-time favorite Olympic moment remains one I heard retold throughout my life from the 1980 Olympics and the US hockey team’s upset over the Soviet Union. Al Michaels made the iconic call and with exuberance asked, “Do you believe in miracles?!!!”  

Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26) 

Do you believe in miracles?

Recently, I found myself asking the same question: "Do you believe in miracles?" Truly, I can say that I have seen miracles occur not only within my own life but in the lives of those whom I have promised to pray for. Scripture is full of miraculous events and encounters that are transformative and give evidence of God’s dominion over all things. We live with this awareness that God can do miracles. It is one of the most incredible gifts of our faith to share in this knowledge. But there also comes another side to the miracle narrative. God doesn’t always deliver the miracle in the manner that we ask for yet; He is no less good.   

The letdown, heartbreak, disappointment from a miracle request seemingly denied can rattle even the most faithful. However, a dear friend reminded me recently, our faith does not depend on the results, rather our faith is dependent upon a person whose name is Jesus Christ. We don’t always get the luxury of understanding, but we are given the opportunity for grace. Surrender and trust can mean letting go of the results we hope for and placing our hope in God alone.  

My soul rests in God alone, 
from whom comes my salvation. 
God alone is my rock and salvation, my fortress;  
I shall never fall. (Psalm 62:2-3) 

Successful prayer in a culture built on results 

Our culture is built on results, but our faith is built upon the rock. We are taught to go for the gold and yet even in the Olympics the numbers aren’t in favor of gold as the result. This year there were over 10,000 athletes who competed, yet only 329 gold medals were awarded. That means that only three percent of Olympic world class athletes walked away with the result that the world says is the measure of the highest level of success.   

In recent years, the power of prayer has been challenged and questioned by the world we live in. It seems that the measure of a successful prayer has somehow become tied to the results.  

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 
Nor are your ways my ways ... 
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 
So are my ways higher than your ways, 
My thoughts higher than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9) 

Our faith challenges us to trust Him, and His ways that are not our ways. This is not intuitive to our nature and can be difficult to accept. However, even when things don’t go as hoped, when I reflect on the body of work and miracles that the Lord has done and will do, I can think of no better team to be a part of. The hard part is that we can’t yet see the results because the total fulfillment of His promises are still yet to come.    

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Copyright 2024 Kristina Talbot
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