Evidence, Philosophy, and Hope
Miracles transcend natural laws, challenging materialist assumptions and pointing to a supernatural being. From the resurrection of Jesus Christ to modern-day, medically verified healings, miracles are extraordinary signs of divine intervention. Yet, in the busyness of life, we often overlook the miraculous in our midst. This blog presents a comprehensive case for God from miracles, incorporating historical, contemporary, and scientific insights while addressing common questions: Why do miracles happen for some but not for others? What about miracles in other religions?
Miracles in Everyday Life
“The world is too much with us,” as the poet Wordsworth observed, and we often fail to recognize the miracles surrounding us. Creation itself is a miracle. The universe, with its fine-tuned laws and incomprehensible beauty, reflects divine craftsmanship. Psalm 19:1 declares, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” From the intricate design of a cell to the birth of a child, the natural world testifies to the miraculous.
Even practical examples demonstrate how everyday events can be perceived as miracles:
- The recovery of a terminally ill patient defying medical predictions.
- The survival of individuals in life-threatening accidents with no explanation.
- The provision of food or financial aid at just the right moment, often attributed to answered prayer.
What Are Miracles?
Miracles are extraordinary events that defy natural laws and point to a supernatural cause. If even one miracle genuinely occurs, it provides compelling evidence for the existence of God.
The argument for God from miracles is as follows:
Premise 1: If genuine miracles occur, they require a cause beyond the natural order.
Premise 2: Miracles are events that defy natural laws and are attributed to a divine cause.
Premise 3: Historical and contemporary evidence supports the occurrence of specific miracles.
Premise 4: The best explanation for such miracles is the existence of a supernatural being (i.e., God).
Conclusion: Therefore, God exists.
Historical Evidence: The Resurrection of Jesus
The resurrection of Jesus Christ remains the cornerstone of Christian belief and one of the best-documented miracles in history. Its evidential base includes:
- The Empty Tomb:
Multiple independent sources, including the Gospels and early Christian creeds (e.g., 1 Corinthians 15:3-7), attest to the empty tomb.¹ Critics like Bart Ehrman concede that early Christians genuinely believed in the resurrection.² - Eyewitness Testimonies:
The risen Jesus appeared to individuals and groups, including skeptics like Paul and James, Jesus’ brother.³ These appearances included physical interactions, such as Jesus eating with His disciples and inviting Thomas to touch His wounds.⁴ - The Apostles’ Transformation:
The disciples, who had fled in fear during Jesus’ arrest, became bold preachers of His resurrection. Many were martyred for their testimony.⁵ - The Birth of Christianity:
Christianity arose and spread rapidly in Jerusalem, where Jesus was crucified and buried. The resurrection is the most plausible explanation for this phenomenon.⁶
Miracles in the Early Church and the Fathers
Church history is replete with accounts of miracles, particularly in the early centuries:
- St. Augustine:
Augustine of Hippo, in City of God, recounts dozens of miracles, including the healing of the blind and the raising of the dead. He writes, “Even now, miracles are wrought in the name of Christ, whether by sacraments or prayer or relics of His saints.”⁷ - The Early Church Fathers:
- Irenaeus of Lyons testified to healings, exorcisms, and even the raising of the dead in his Against Heresies.
- Justin Martyr noted miraculous healings and deliverances occurring in the name of Jesus in his Apologies.
- Tertullian boldly challenged skeptics by pointing to ongoing miracles as evidence of Christianity’s divine power.
Modern-Day Miracles
Even in modern times, verified accounts of miracles continue to occur:
- Medically Verified Healings:
- A paralyzed woman regains the ability to walk after 22 years during a prayer service.⁸
- Blind individuals and the deaf recover their sight and hearing in response to prayer, documented by researchers and eyewitnesses.⁹
- A child declared dead for 45 minutes after drowning is revived following his mother’s prayer.¹⁰
- Documented Cases from Pure Flix:
- A child with Down syndrome is healed of leukemia, surprising doctors.¹¹
- A woman suffering from debilitating arthritis is miraculously healed during prayer.¹²
- Investigated and Verified Miracles:
- Over 70 healings at Lourdes have been officially recognized after rigorous investigations by medical experts.¹³
- A consecrated Eucharist in Buenos Aires transformed into human heart tissue under scientific analysis.¹⁴
Scientific Studies Supporting Miracles
Empirical studies also provide evidence for miracles:
- Prayer Studies:
A 1988 double-blind study on intercessory prayer demonstrated significant improvements in coronary care patients who were prayed for compared to those who were not.¹⁵ - Healing Research in Mozambique:
Published in Southern Medical Journal, this 2010 study documented dramatic improvements in vision and hearing among individuals prayed for, verified by medical personnel.¹⁶ - Mystical Inedia:
Therese Neumann, a Catholic mystic, reportedly lived for 36 years without food or water, sustained only by the Eucharist. Physicians who studied her could not explain her survival.¹⁷
What About Miracles in Other Religions?
Miracles in other religions do not negate the existence of the Christian God. Instead, they confirm the reality of the supernatural and God’s engagement with humanity. As C.S. Lewis observed, such miracles often act as signposts pointing to ultimate truth. Miracles in any context affirm that the natural world is not a closed system and that God is active in ways beyond human understanding.
Why Do Miracles Happen to Some but Not Others?
This question touches deeply on the nature of God, the human experience, and the purpose of miracles. While miracles can be awe-inspiring and faith-building, their occurrence—or lack thereof—often raises profound theological and emotional questions. Below are expanded reasons why miracles may happen for some but not for others, grounded in Scripture, theology, and pastoral sensitivity.
1. Miracles as Signs of God’s Plan
Miracles are not distributed randomly but serve as signs to reveal God’s power, glory, and purposes. In John 20:30-31, miracles are described as signs meant to inspire belief in Jesus as the Son of God. They are often strategically placed within God’s redemptive plan to direct attention to His work in the world.
This means that miracles are not simply about alleviating suffering but also about pointing humanity to something greater—God’s kingdom and His ultimate restoration of creation.
2. God’s Sovereign Wisdom
Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours. He sees the bigger picture of eternity, while we often focus on the immediate moment. God may allow suffering or the absence of a miracle for reasons we cannot fully understand, yet His purposes are always good and redemptive. What may seem like a lack of intervention is often a part of a greater, unseen plan.
3. Miracles Are Not Guarantees
God does not promise a life free from pain or struggle, even for those who believe in Him. In John 16:33, Jesus tells His disciples, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” While miracles may happen to some, they are not a guarantee for everyone in every situation. Instead, God offers His presence, comfort, and the promise of ultimate restoration in eternity.
4. The Role of Faith and Prayer
Faith and prayer play significant roles in the occurrence of miracles, as seen throughout Scripture. Jesus often responded to acts of faith with miraculous intervention, such as healing the woman who touched His garment. However, this does not mean that a lack of a miracle always reflects a lack of faith. Paul, for example, prayed repeatedly for the removal of his “thorn in the flesh,” yet God chose not to remove it, instead telling him, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
5. Suffering Has a Purpose
God can use suffering to refine, teach, or draw people closer to Him. While miracles may provide instant relief, enduring trials often produces long-term spiritual growth. James 1:2-4 encourages believers to “consider it pure joy” when facing trials, as these challenges produce perseverance and maturity in faith. The absence of a miracle does not mean God is absent; it may be an opportunity for deeper dependence on Him.
6. Free Will and a Fallen World
Human free will and the reality of a fallen, broken world mean that suffering and injustice are part of the human condition. God’s intervention through miracles does not negate the existence of pain but offers a glimpse of His ultimate plan to restore all things. Romans 8:18 reminds us that “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
7. Miracles Are Often for the Benefit of Others
Miracles often serve a purpose beyond the individual who experiences them. They can inspire faith, draw others to God, or strengthen a community. For example, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead not only to comfort his grieving sisters but also to demonstrate His power over death and inspire belief in those who witnessed it. Sometimes, the absence of a miracle in one life can result in a greater testimony of endurance and faith that impacts many.
8. Trust in God’s Ultimate Miracle
Even if a miracle does not occur in this life, the ultimate miracle has already been given: Jesus’ death and resurrection. This act of divine intervention secures eternal life for all who believe. While temporal miracles may ease suffering, they are only a foretaste of the final restoration God promises—a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no more pain, tears, or death (Revelation 21:4).
9. Miracles Sometimes Require Our Participation
In some instances, miracles may involve human action or obedience. For example, Naaman the leper was healed only after he followed the prophet Elisha’s instruction to wash in the Jordan River. Similarly, practical steps—such as forgiving others, reconciling relationships, or seeking medical help—may open the door for God’s miraculous intervention. This underscores that miracles often involve a partnership between divine power and human response.
10. God’s Presence Is Always Enough
Perhaps the most profound reason why miracles may not happen for everyone is that God Himself is the ultimate source of comfort, hope, and joy. His presence sustains us, even in the absence of a miraculous intervention. Psalm 34:18 reminds us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” While miracles may be extraordinary gifts, God’s abiding presence is a constant assurance for all who trust in Him.
While miracles may not happen for everyone, God’s love, sovereignty, and redemptive plan remain constant. Whether or not we experience a miraculous intervention, we can trust that God is working all things together for good, according to His perfect wisdom and timing.
How Many Miracles Are Needed?
Answer: Only one.
A single genuine miracle—such as the resurrection of Jesus—is sufficient to demonstrate the existence of a supernatural agent. The cumulative weight of numerous documented miracles strengthens the case further.
Miracles Point to God
The cumulative evidence for miracles—from the resurrection of Jesus to modern healings and scientifically verified phenomena—offers a compelling case for the existence of God. Miracles consistently point to a supernatural reality, confirming that the natural world is not closed but open to divine action.
For those struggling with unanswered prayers, the promise of God’s presence and eternal restoration offers profound hope. As Paul writes, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).
Footnotes
1 Bart Ehrman, Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999)
2 William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008)
3 N.T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003)
4 Gary Habermas, The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ (Joplin: College Press, 1996)
5 Craig, Reasonable Faith
6 Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God
7 Augustine of Hippo, City of God, trans. Henry Bettenson (London: Penguin Books, 2003), Book 22, Chapter 8.
8 Craig Keener, Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2011)
9 Candy Gunther Brown et al., “Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Proximal Intercessory Prayer on Auditory and Visual Impairments in Rural Mozambique,” Southern Medical Journal 103, no. 9 (2010)
10 Joyce Smith, Breakthrough: The Miraculous True Story of a Mother’s Faith and Her Child’s Resurrection (New York: FaithWords, 2017)
11 “4 Unbelievable Modern-Day Miracles” PureFlix Insider, accessed January 10, 2025, https://www.pureflix.com/insider/modern-day-miracles?hs_amp=true.
12 Ibid.
13 René Laurentin, Lourdes: 50 Years of Miracles (New York: Pauline Books, 2004)
14 Craig Keener, Miracles
15 Randolph Byrd, “Positive Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer in a Coronary Care Unit Population,” Southern Medical Journal 81, no. 7 (1988)
16 Brown et al., “Therapeutic Effects,”
17 Hans Holzer, The Secret of Healing: Mystics Who Cured (New York: Franklin Watts, 1971)
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