A God of Miracles

I wrote yesterday about the importance of experiencing awe, which is a recognition of the vastness of the universe and the many things around us that we don’t fully understand. We can experience it when we set aside our task list and focus on things like nature, art, and prayer.

Equally important is converting those feelings of awe into action. Why is that important? Because God can work miracles in our lives if we exercise faith in Him:

I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith.

2 Nephi 27:23

The alternative to exercising faith and experiencing miracles is trying to do everything on our own. Nephi prophesied that in our day, many people would “teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance” (2 Nephi 28:4). These people will say:

Hearken ye unto my precept, and if [other people] shall say there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work.

2 Nephi 28:6

What’s wrong with this thought process? First of all, it implies that God changes, that what He did for people anciently He won’t do for us today. Secondly, it discourages us from exercising faith, from trying to accomplish miraculous things with His help.

Moroni warned us not to fall for this fallacy:

Are not the things that God hath wrought marvelous in our eyes? Yea, and who can comprehend the marvelous works of God?

Who shall say that it was not a miracle that by his word the heaven and the earth should be; and by the power of his word man was created of the dust of the earth; and by the power of his word have miracles been wrought?

And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles.

And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.

Mormon 9:16-19

A few years ago, President Russell M. Nelson challenged us to believe that God can work miracles in our individual lives:

Moving your mountains may require a miracle. Learn about miracles. Miracles come according to your faith in the Lord. Central to that faith is trusting His will and timetable—how and when He will bless you with the miraculous help you desire. Only your unbelief will keep God from blessing you with miracles to move the mountains in your life.

“Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains,” General Conference, April 2021, italics in original

President Nelson then shared five actions we can take which will increase our faith. This one really struck me:

“What would you do if you had more faith? Think about it. Write about it. Then receive more faith by doing something that requires more faith.”

This was during the pandemic, and my goals were somewhat muted. I realized when I heard those words that I wasn’t really being stretched. If I wanted increased faith, I would have to take on some bigger challenges.

Today, on my marker board in my home office, I have a list titled “mountains.” I could have called them “goals,” but the word “mountain” reminds me that I don’t have to do these things on my own. In fact, I will only be successful by trusting God to perform miracles on my behalf.

President Nelson assured us, “The Lord never slumbers, nor does He sleep. He ‘is the same yesterday, today, and [tomorrow].’ He will not forsake His covenants, His promises, or His love for His people. He works miracles today, and He will work miracles tomorrow.”

Today, I will trust God to help me move the mountains in my life. I will remember that He has always been and will always be a God of miracles. I will strive to accomplish big things, knowing that all things are possible with Him.