New Living Translation (NLT)

Verse 12. "even greater things, than these you will do" from the New King James Version (NKJV).

Italics [you] by author; orig. [he]

I had just experienced my supernatural encounter with God. Without hesitation I surrendered my life. There was a God! All my doubt went out the window. Almost from day one I could hear His voice. Miracles happened. I mean real life miracles! I started reading the Word. I was filled with a raw hunger. Took everything at face value. This was the Word of God, how could it not be true?! I was completely unhindered by any theological knowledge. I felt like a kid in a candy store.

So when I read scriptures like John 14:12 where Jesus says: “anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works,.."

I was like, alrighty then, let's do this! This is Jesus talking. He wouldn't lie about this stuff.

I wasn't thinking, yeah well, maybe it was only for that day and age, or what about Paul's thorn? Or what about Trophimus?

Nope. Jesus says 'anybody who believes', I'm 'anybody', so let's do this!

So when I was at my parent's house (good Christian folk) and they told me their car had died on them and they hoped it could be fixed, or else ..

I was like: you call yourselves Christians? Where is your faith? Give me the keys!

I got in the car, I said: car, in Jesus' name, start! I turned the keys and sure enough, the car came to life, without even so much as a hiccup. I never had any doubt.

My parents were perplexed.

I had many moments like this. But in the time that followed I quickly learned this wasn't the standard. If anything, it rarely ever happened people told me. I was told miracles were not meant for this day and age. Miracles faded away as time advanced.

Then came a moment when it didn't work.

Most of you know I'm a huge animal lover, especially birds. I just love 'em!

In the garden I found a beautiful, meticulously built bird's nest. I recognised it as a Wren's nest. Teeny tiny birds. Beautiful creatures!

Every day I would check on the nest. Then one day I found the female Wren hung herself with a horse's hair just before the nest's entrance (what are the odds?!). I was heartbroken. But at the same time, I knew 'and even greater works'..

I took the little bird in my hands. I thanked God for the miracle I was about to see and declared life over this little dead bird.

Then I threw the bird high up in the air..

For a moment it seemed to fly, but fell back to the earth with a, to my ears, thunderous thud..

I was devastated.

Now, this moment could've marked the beginning of a turning point. 'Cause it made me doubt.

But, I made the decision that I would not let my personal experience dictate the Word of God.

Just because it didn't work doesn't mean this scripture is not true anymore. It just means, I'm work in progress. I still got things to learn.

And just like the disciples in Matt 17:19, I can ask Jesus: why didn't it work?

Now since that time, I've seen both people and animals die. And I've opened up my door to a lot of pain and hurt, believing God still heals today. But you know, pain is love's next door neighbour.

But I've also seen miracles. Miraculous healings. You wouldn't believe some of the testimonies people have sent us. Healings God did through Project of Love.

So what do we do?

Every time we read a scripture that conflicts with our personal experience, come up with an excuse why it didn't work? Create a theology based on our personal experience rather than the Word of God?

That's like a doctor who decides never to operate again because somebody died on his operating table.

Or accept that we are a work in progress. And yes, we'll encounter a lot of pain and hurt in the process. But do we really have an option? Look at the world around you.

But maybe for now, let's just park 'the greater things' and try to follow and do the things Jesus did. We have some catching up to do 😉