Nicole O'Meara | Blog — Nicole O'Meara

We are the Blind Man

Congenital blindness is untreatable (v.32). In the opening verses of John 9, the disciples don’t question if the man born blind can be healed by Jesus because they assume a congenital defect is beyond a miracle. Instead, they use the man’s predicament as an opportunity for Jesus to clarify a debated question. “Who sinned to cause this blindness,” they ask, “the man or his parents?”

We have an innate desire to connect cause with effect. But from Jesus’ reply we learn that causation is not as important as purpose. Jesus answers that neither the parents nor the man sinned—the blindness existed so that the wondrous signs of God could be displayed.

BlogNicole O'MearaAugust 12, 2022chronic disease, blindness, John, devotionalComment

DEVOTIONAL: Write it Down & Remember

Often, real change happens in small increments that we may not notice. This is true for physical healing as well as spiritual healing. Becoming more like Christ happens in one moment (salvation) and in a lifetime of moments (sanctification). It is the work of the Holy Spirit who is constantly healing and shaping our hearts, but if we’re not careful, we’ll miss it entirely.

No wonder the Bible repeatedly commands us to “remember,” “remind,” and “write down” the faithful deeds of the Lord.

Blog, DevotionalNicole O'MearaAugust 5, 2022Devotional, Journaling, Joyful Life MagazineComment

I Just Need Possible

“I don’t need easy, I just need possible,” she said. For Bethany Hamilton, world-class surfer and shark-attack survivor, those hope-filled words are empowering. They echo the words of Jesus: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). We have a tendency to forget to factor in God’s grace and power when we think of doing hard things or seemingly impossible things. But Scripture is full of people like Bethany, doing the impossible because our all-powerful God extended His power to them.

BlogNicole O'MearaJune 21, 2022Devotional, Joyful Life Magazine, Bethany HamiltonComment

The Lord is My Portion

Reading the book of Lamentations is like reading a nightmare in which parents eat their children or leave them to starve. No wonder the author is lamenting... sorrowing. His situation is utterly hopeless. "My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the LORD." Yet, he also says, "Therefore I will hope in him." How can the author say that after claiming he had no hope?

BlogNicole O'MearaMay 31, 2022hope, lament, portionComment

Blessings in the Ashes of Our Mars Hill Experience

It took 17 episodes for CT to recount the losses at Mars Hill. Yet Chad’s story is different. His story recounted losses and blessings.

Chad’s story caused me to stop and consider a list of blessings, silver linings, from my chronic illness. The silver lining of chronic illness is learning there is a purpose we cannot see in the pain we cannot escape.

BlogNicole O'MearaMay 26, 2022chronic disease, podcast Comment

What’s so Mysterious About Irrational Love?

When we invest our hope in God, we get his unfailing love in return. Of course, the only way we ever come to the place where we can put our hope in him is through his grace. We cannot do it in our own strength. So, God gives us the grace to love him, then he gives us his unfailing love in return. Sounds like he’s doing all the work, right? Exactly.

It is embarrassing to be loved like that. Brennan Manning calls this, “irrational love.” It makes no sense. He gives his love and we don’t have to do anything for it. Nothing. God loves us because he loves us. That’s it.

Why would a perfect God love us despite our many imperfections? It’s a mystery.

BlogNicole O'MearaApril 20, 2022spinal cord injury, love, PsalmComment

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