FouR DaYS

I have been struck lately with God's clear message to me to have patience and just wait. In church on Sunday, the pastor shared a message based off of John 11 where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. In the past when I have heard sermons on this chapter, the concentration has always been on the fact that Jesus raised Lazarus and is able to do anything for us.

But, the pastor focused in on something different. He focused on the four days before. Lazarus had been ill. Martha and Mary sent a message to Him expressing that His friend was ill, yet Jesus lingered. And he lingered. He lingered on purpose.

Mary and Martha doubted. They believed that had Jesus come earlier He could have saved their brother.

The disciples doubted. The 12 men who followed Jesus and had first-hand knowledge of His ability to perform miracles, doubted. They doubted Him.

And, the pharisees doubted and challenged Jesus.

Yet, He lingered. And in his own time, after four days (the amount of time when Jews believed that people were really dead -- when their soul had left their bodies), only then did Jesus go to see Lazarus. After raising Lazarus, he had a conversation with God saying, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that YOU sent me."

And I am struck by the notion that Jesus is wanting us to believe in His power --- in the fact that God sent Him. Do we believe that God is in control? On a basic level, I do. He is. He is in control of everything.

I believe it.

But on a deeper level, it is one of the hardest things to truly comprehend.

I cannot fathom all that the Lord is capable of doing in my life.

I think that the story of Mary and Martha and the disciples in John is a perfect illustration of our inability as humans to truly grasp God's power... so we doubt. We give up within the four days.

But, just like Jesus promised to Mary and Martha that Lazarus' illness would not end in death, whatever disappointment, struggle, waiting period, unhappiness -- whatever illness we are going through, it won't end there. God is powerful and will bring us through. If we believe, He will raise us out of it!

1 Corinthians 2:9
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.