When miracles happen and when they don’t

WE GOT OUR MIRACLE

For over six years, Abudu* and his wife, Amina,* walked a journey of faith, waiting on the Lord for the blessing of a child. As they served faithfully among the unreached, their hearts longed for this miracle. Yearly, they declared, “With God nothing shall be impossible” (Lk. 1:37).

When medical reports seemed discouraging and the waiting period grew longer, they chose faith over fear. They continued serving in their mission assignment, teaching and making disciples for Christ among the Gola and Kpelle peoples in West Africa. Their missions community and friends joined them in prayer, trusting God for a breakthrough. Like Abraham and Sarah, they believed that the God who called them was able to fulfil his promise.

And then, the long-awaited miracle arrived! The doctors confirmed that Abudu’s wife had conceived. Their joy was indescribable (Ps. 126:3). Tears of gratitude replaced years of wondering. Their testimony is a reminder that God never forgets his children. Even when answers are delayed, his timing is perfect. The Bible declares, “At the right time, the Lord will make it happen” (Is. 60:22). Truly, God made it happen for this faithful couple!

As they prepare to welcome their baby, they are more committed to proclaiming God’s faithfulness. Their story encourages other missionaries and believers who are still waiting on God to keep trusting. God still works wonders, and he delights in rewarding those who hold on in faith.

OUR MIRACLE DID NOT COME

Kalu’s* ministry was flourishing. He was instrumental in establishing two thriving Bible discovery groups and working with three local contacts. His consistent work led to six converts among the neighbouring Ditamari people – a testament to his passion for sharing the gospel. For five years, he had volunteered, and after nearly a year of serving as a full-time missionary among the Ani people, tragedy struck – Kalu was bitten by a snake.

The news sent ripples of concern throughout the missions community, and an intensive campaign of prayer and practical support issued from his mission agency and fellow missionaries in Benin and Togo. Calls and visits offered solace to the family, and financial aid was dispatched.

Fervent prayers focused on a miracle of healing. Kalu was young – 32 years old – his ministry was vibrant, and his family needed him. Surely, God would  spare his life. In the New Testament, we read of God’s power over sickness and even death. The apostle James encourages believers: “… And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him…” (Jam. 5:14-15). This promise fuelled the hopeful cries of his colleagues and family.

But as the hours turned into a sorrowful night, the miracle did not happen, and Kalu succumbed to the venom. The healing was withheld; leaving his wife and their two young children to face a heart-breaking void. In the raw aftermath of grief, the question echoed: why was this prayer unanswered?

The husband, the father, the tireless servant, slipped away from the earthly field he had toiled in so diligently. When God’s power is evident in conversion, why does it seem absent in such moments of need?

The words of the Apostle Paul offer a perspective that transcends physical healing: “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). Kalu’s life, though cut short, was not without divine purpose. His true miracle may not have been in his healing, but in the enduring fruit of his labour – the Ditamari converts who now carry the torch, and the communities he helped to reconcile.

God’s faithfulness is displayed not just in miraculous healing but in his provision for the bereaved. The financial and emotional support from his organization and friends is a tangible demonstration of God’s care for his wife and their children. The community rallies around them, upholding them in their sorrow (Ps. 34:18).

Kalu’s death seems a tragic end, but the work he began continues. His ultimate victory lies not in escaping death, but in the promise of eternal life: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philip. 1:21, ESV).