There are few people we can be truly honest with in our lives. They are the ones with whom we can let down our entire guard, allow our emotions to run their course, and offer our disappointments and doubts. We cannot do it with everyone, but there are a few that are safe, a few that will receive us as we are no matter what.
Two sisters and a brother were those people for Jesus, and Jesus was that for them. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus had a deep friendship with Jesus. It was Mary who fell at Jesus’s feet and anointed his feet with her hair and oil (John 11:2; John 12:1–8). It was Martha whom we can find being completely honest with Jesus when her sister leaves her in the kitchen with all the work (Luke 10:38–42). It was Lazarus who was described as being loved by Jesus (John 11:3, 36). Jesus loved this family, and with this depth of love came the freedom to be themselves, to be honest in their disappointment, to be vulnerable with their tears, and to offer Jesus their whole selves, stopping short of nothing (John 11:5).
unmoved
Knowing Jesus well, the sisters sent Jesus a message, “Lord, the one whom you love is ill” (John 11:3). You would expect Jesus to respond with, “Okay, I’m coming right away.” But he didn’t. He said some cryptic words about his illness not leading to death and being for God’s glory (John 11:4). Then he stayed two days longer where he was. He seemed to be unfazed by the sisters’ news, and then said plainly, “He is dead” (John 11:14). He followed this with another cryptic statement: “I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe” (John 11:15). What was Jesus up to? Did he not see their pain? Did he not feel it either?
honesty welcome
Jesus then began moving toward Bethany, the sisters’ hometown. Martha heard he was coming and went to meet him, being honest about her disappointment and her expectation of Jesus. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21).
Later in the story, Mary came to Jesus and said the exact same thing, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32).
The community responded with, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” (John 11:37). Another fair question. And Jesus welcomed it all.
himself
Jesus eventually raised Lazarus from the dead. He had his purposes in waiting as well as his welcome of grief, confusion, and questions. Jesus did not rush to resurrection, and he met Mary, Martha, and the people with his own humanity as well. Yes, he will resurrect, but there is something in the waiting that he has for each person. He has himself. Waiting for resurrection gave Martha, Mary, and the people more of him. And that is what he gives us as well.
God, I thought you were going to open wide a portal for me to know my next step. Why haven’t you opened the door and revealed yourself, like you have always done in my past?
I’ve had many disappointments in my life but with each of those disappointments, my faith in Jesus has brought clarity and understanding and most importantly forgiveness
I love the truth that every test can become a testimony. And who of us hasn’t been tested? In ways that are small and enormous, in ways that are seen and unseen, in ways that are short-lived and present-living. For me, my stories include brutiful seasons of rejection, mothering, ministry, grief and enduring love and grace for a hard-to-love family member.
I often tell these test-imonies through my writing, but my very favorite way is in relationship ~ one to one, over a cup of coffee. 🙂 Is it hard to be vulnerable? Yes! But is it freeing, both for me and the one I’m telling? So many yes’s!
Oh Mrs. Jodie I pray for you! Letting God in to know every detail one by one in prayer or writing~explaining your truth & your testimonies is beautiful to me.
The disappointment or questions I have in my life is for myself… where am I going? What am I doing with my life? Where is God taking me? But seeing and trusting God ~ listening to Him will show me the way to my values and love and joy.
I am in a place of healing and happiness that I have never had like this. God has blessed me with an amazing man . God never let’s me stay the same. I am so thankful for God’s goodness!!!
It’s interesting that Jesus didn’t immediately ease their worries and suffering… it reminds us that we are dearly loved, even when he does not immediately come to our aid. Sometimes we can see after a hard experience why he didn’t immediately intervene (as we can in this story) – other times, we may not get to see it. We simply have to trust that he works all things for good for those who love him.
I do, but I already know the answer. My grief ebs and flows and I always ask God “why me, why Logan, why us?!” So much about this doesn’t seem fair because I’ve personally have been through A LOT of pain and difficulties in this life. It doesn’t seem fair that my husband’s ONLY son, the only male to carry on his name has a disability and we do not know what his future will look like. It’s painful. BUT I know that God gave US his ONLY SON and he was innocent… that wasn’t fair either! AND God DOES give us more than we can handle because we can only handle it with him! God gave us Logan for a reason. He entrusted us with this precious boy and he equips us when we do not know what to do. He strengthens us and carries us and ONLY GOD knows Logan’s future. I trust his plan and Logan’s purpose. Although it’s never going to be easy and it will be painful, but this is a broken world and we will always have pain and suffering in this world. But God is my hope.
not to question if my faith is enough
I am walking through a valley right now. My husband left in March and it has been difficult, but the Lord has provided miraculously every time. He is so Faithful and I am so grateful.
Milton
Shane
Why my time with Frank and working with the guys in my business that I have been so good to always I have truly tried to love and care for each one of them 100% putting their needs before my own and why they treat me so wrong. I guess I am so disappointed in them. I continue trying to grow and handle the situation differently but nothing seems to change and it is at the point where I feel I have to fire almost everyone or sell my business. It just hurts when you love someone and they treat you badly.