Thursday, August 14th: In Episode 574 of The Daily Grind, John Spencer explores Thornton Wilder’s one-act play The Angel That Troubles the Water, inspired by John 5:1–4 and the healing waters of Bethesda. The play tells the story of a weary physician seeking relief from his deep melancholy at the pool. When the angel stirs the water, the physician steps forward, only to be stopped. In a profound exchange, the angel explains that it is the physician’s wounds that give him the power to reach and comfort others. The man who receives physical healing then invites the physician to visit his troubled children, recognizing his unique gift to lift their spirits. John reflects on the truth that our own scars can become bridges to minister to others. Drawing on 2 Corinthians 1:4, he emphasizes that God comforts us so we can comfort others. He warns that hiding our wounds in shame can rob us of that calling, quoting Bonhoeffer on the dangers of guilt becoming an idol. Embracing redemption allows us to live as “wounded healers,” using our pain for God’s purposes. This episode is an invitation to see suffering not as wasted, but as a vital part of how God shapes us to serve.
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