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.
I have dealt with chronic pain issues for over 25 years. No one can figure out the cause. I thought at first it was to make me a more empathetic nurse, which I think I became. Though I’ve been controlled on pain med and have cut my prescription down considerably, my doctor talks all the time about taking me off the meds. I struggle through the fear, but try to hold on to knowledge that God will always take care of me and He has a plan.
I am there, at that place where I either fall at His feet or give up n life, on Jesus! Since mother died, It seems my world has fallen apart….completely, my health, my support system, and now my finances! Just when I think God is “healing my leg” it suddenly gets worse and the new treatment requires that have already squeezed almost the last penny out of my bank! The bills are piling up, I cannot physically work, with a huge car pmt it pretty much wipes me out before the month has even started! Just about when I want ton”through in the towel” I set eyed on a card sent to me by BBC a friend who hat says: “Though He slay me yet will I trust Him” followed by the 23rd Psalm!! I do NOT understand why, how or even IF/when but, like Mary I throw myself into His arms cause I too BELIEVE He is my Creator and Savior and He DOES HAVE A PURPOSE for MY life!!!
I am there, at that place where I either fall at His feet or give up n life, on Jesus! Since mother died, It seems my world has fallen apart….completely, my health, my support system, and now my finances! Just when I think God is “healing my leg” it suddenly gets worse and the new treatment requires that have already squeezed almost the last penny out of my bank! The bills are piling up, I cannot physically work, with a huge car pmt it pretty much wipes me out before the month has even started! Just about when I want ton”through in the towel” I set eyed on a card sent to me by BBC a friend who hat says: “Though He slay me yet will I trust Him” followed by the 23rd Psalm!! I do NOT understand why, how or even IF/when but, like Mary I throw myself into His arms cause I too BELIEVE He is my Creator and Savior and He DOES HAVE A PURPOSE for MY life!!!
I am there, at that place where I either fall at His feet or give up n life, on Jesus! Since mother died, It seems my world has fallen apart….completely, my health, my support system, and now my finances! Just when I think God is “healing my leg” it suddenly gets worse and the new treatment requires that have already squeezed almost the last penny out of my bank! The bills are piling up, I cannot physically work, with a huge car pmt it pretty much wipes me out before the month has even started! Just about when I want ton”through in the towel” I set eyed on a card sent to me by BBC a friend who hat says: “Though He slay me yet will I trust Him” followed by the 23rd Psalm!! I do NOT understand why, how or even IF/when but, like Mary I throw myself into His arms cause I too BELIEVE He is my Creator and Savior and He DOES HAVE A PURPOSE for MY life!!!
I have learned that one cannot change others, and God won’t either. I have to change me and my response to others.
Well said.
God brought me to a crossroads in which I had been praying daily on. I had been deciding my future instead of being guided by the holy spirit. What I realized was that I wasn’t waiting on Gods answer to my prayer, he in fact, was waiting on me to answer his calling.
Yes! I’m always torn between whether I should be content with what we have, or whether I should be striving for more. And I never seem to find the answer. I sit on one side for a while and then on the other but never feel content with either one for a long period. It’s hard feeling content with what we have knowing I could be reaching for more, but I never know if God wants me to or not…so I have been waiting in the balance for many years not knowing what to do. I sense it’s not something another person can answer for me. I sense God will answer me Himself at the right time.
I pray you have hope in the waiting.
Questioning whether God will heal my husbands ankle this time. I decided yesterday that I would try to be patient in the waiting and make the most out of this time by encouraging him and I to get into the word everyday together. We kind of slacked off a little but I feel like I am being nudged to get back on track. The only thing I can think of why Jesus hasnt healed my husband yet it because there is purpose in this season. Lord help me be intentional just like you are.
My first real grief I think came when my daughter-in-law Linda found that she could not conceive and each time they tried with in vitro four times, it was very stressful And very sad. It felt like our prayers were hitting a ceiling as they were not but like God wasn’t hearing us. Wanting for so long to be grandparents was overshadowed By the grief we all felt in the loss each time of a possible baby in their lives. And all the time you thinking where are you god, do you hear us are we important to you…
I think a disappointment I have is that my best friend is moving over summer. We are so close, and we had so many plans of things to do before she left. But now with the virus I can’t even see her at all. I just wonder why this is happening and if I’ll ever get to actually hang out with her again.
Yes, my son Andrew who struggles with PTSD from serving in the military has been an alcoholic for 10 years after returning from Afghanistan. I have been praying for spiritual and physical healing. I know the spiritual healing needs to come first in order for physical healing. Why it’s taking so long for his healing is beyond me. I get angry all the time at the Lord and cry out to him. I know deep in my heart healing is coming: