Struck by a Turtle: When Life’s Unexplainable Moments Become an Invitation to God’s Glory

Just recently I learned something very interesting. I learned that Medicare has a code that is an actual billable diagnosis known as: Being Struck by a Turtle. It is important to note that Struck by a Turtle is an injury-cause code, not the underlying life-limiting diagnosis. After further investigation, it appears that this code has absolutely nothing to do with being literally struck by a turtle. It is a code that Medicare simply plugs in when they are unsure about what actually caused an injury that has led to a life-limiting diagnosis. They use it when rare and unique circumstances occur that are often far-fetched and/or things that just don't make sense at the moment.

Let me give you a scriptural example: In the scriptures, when Jesus was getting ready to heal a man, his disciples asked him a pertinent question: they said, Who sinned, this man or was it his parents? In other words, they wanted to know whether his diagnosis was based on something he did or was it something that was naturally passed down to him by way of his parents. Not knowing what caused this man to become blind could be known as being struck by a turtle: something that was perhaps unique, out of the blue, or a rare circumstance. But at the moment, it was unknown. Jesus answered and responded to them by saying: Neither this man nor his parents sinned, this happened so that the glory of God could be revealed.

Friends, when we find ourselves being struck by a turtle, when things seemingly happen out of the blue that cause us heartache, and our faith to become frustrated, when things happen to us that are far-fetched and don’t make sense, it is easy to do like the disciples and ask investigative questions to get a better grasp on the situation. But perhaps, in the response that Jesus gives, you being hit by a turtle is an invitation to have a greater encounter, a greater awareness of the glory of God.

When sudden illness or sudden bad news knocks at our door, yes it is going to hurt. Our natural inclination will be to respond in haste, panic, or a plethora of other emotions. But after you’ve had your moment of responding naturally, I’m asking you to respond in supernatural faith. A faith that doesn’t seem to ask God why, but rather in a faith that seeks His face, a faith that seeks His glory. Just as King Hezekiah was hit by a turtle-diagnosed with a mysterious illness and told he was going to die: He responded in supernatural faith. He turned his face towards the temple wall and sought the face of God.

None of us wants to be struck by a turtle, metaphorically or literally. But my prayer is that we are all struck by the glory of God. I pray that you are transformed into His likeness, live out your calling, and are a blessing to all you encounter.