Have you read the story of Lazarus' resurrection? Have you ever wondered about why Jesus didn't go as soon as He was asked to come? Jesus had healed so many people. If He has gotten to Jerusalem earlier surely He could have and would have healed His dear friend Lazarus.
Listen to Mary's painful plea, "Lord, if only You had been here my brother would not have died." (John 11:32) Accusation? Confusion? Faith seeing fact? I don't know what motive or motives behind that statement we can attribute to Mary's heart, but we can hear her pain and anguish.
Why didn't Jesus come right away? Why doesn't He answer our desperate prayers as soon as they leave our lips? Why does He leave our hearts in turmoil and need when we cry out to Him with everything that we are? I think we've all faced and asked these questions.
Look through the Bible and you will see the "greats" of faith experiencing the same faith-stretching waits. Moses waited for the deliverance of the Israelites as they continued to languish in Egypt. Before their exit from the land of their slavery, God chose to take time to display His great power to them and the Egyptians. They needed to know that this God who would deliver them, had the power to keep them in the wilderness and in the Promised Land before He would set them free. The Egyptians needed to know that there was only one true God. This story is in the book of Exodus.
John the Baptist, the forerunner and cousin of Jesus. Fearless in the face of the Pharisees. Preacher and baptizer, calling for repentance and turning back to God. When imprisoned by Herod for challenging his marriage to Herodias, John, in his own words to Jesus asked, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Luke 7:18) Did John's pain and confusion cause him to doubt his mission? Doubt Jesus? I can hear the sadness and desperation in his words.
We all have had times and circumstances where God left us waiting. Our hearts troubled and afraid. In our difficulties we forget that Jesus told us not to be troubled. We easily forget He left His peace for us to rest in. Our faith wanes and we struggle to believe. But there's so much more. God's answer may not come in our timing, but it comes at the right time. Look at the above examples! The Israelites and Egyptians saw God great power, and now knew that He was Lord over all. The Israelites saw they could rely on Him, and the Egyptians saw there was only One powerful God overall. Did they stay true to these beliefs, no....we forget often too, so I don't condemn them. Look at John the Baptist. Jesus reassured Him and after his death John gained Heaven!
And lastly, Mary. She looked for healing and Jesus had so much more to offer. I think we do that too. We look for the smaller when God has so much more. She had come to expect the healing of the Lord, but needed to know that resurrection was the true gift Jesus brought.
Oh, that we would seek God's heart and not His hand. He has so much for us, but it's in His timing and ways not our own. Does it hurt to wait? YES!! But is it worth it? Double yes!! We had a friend who was sick for most of her life. These last months have gotten increasingly hard for her. And her husband. Everyone prayed for healing, prayed for God's hand to raise her up from her sick bed. But He had a different plan. He took her home. Now, for the first time ever our friend is not suffering from any illness, any pain.... she's free. She is missed, but we rejoice in her gain.
Today, let the Lord's peace fill your heart as you wait on Him. Romans 8:35-39 35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Lord, remind us that You have given us Your peace that we may rest in You. Help us to stand on Your promises and hold onto our faith. Our faith is based in Your character and we know all Your ways are good, kind and loving, filled with wisdom and perfection....even when we don't understand and it hurts. We can't see the future. Things may look dark and dead, but you are the light and the resurrection. Let us rest in these truths. In Jesus most powerful Name. Amen.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
No comments:
Post a Comment