So when [Jesus] heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days... (John 11:6).
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days” (John 11:38-39).
Abba Father, You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God... abounding in love and faithfulness (Psalm 86:15). You have shown us Your compassionate heart in Your Son, the Lord Jesus, who for our sake became A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3 -NKJV).
Our Savior came with the express mission to bind up the broken-hearted...to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:20-21).
O Lord, we believe You—help our unbelief (Mark 9:24 - NKJV). For so often, to us, it seems You do not respond to the immediacy, and the urgency of our circumstances. We look in vain for set times (Job 24:1) and when we consider them past, our souls cry out like Martha and Mary, "Lord if You had been here..." (John 11:21, 32).
And yet You tell us, “I am the resurrection and the life..." (John 11:25) and You ask us to believe and see the glory of God (John 11:40). O Lord, give us the faith to believe! Give us the faith to trust You just a little bit longer even when You "delay", and two days turn into four and sickness turns into death and death turns into decay.
Lord, we know that our time on earth is finite, and that even Lazarus' resurrection to earthly life (John 11:38-43) was temporary. But we look forward to the final resurrection promised to those who believe in the Living One; the only One who was dead, and [is] now...alive for ever and ever! The only One who holds the keys of death and Hades (Revelation 1:18).
And until that time, Lord, help us to trust You. Help us to wait patiently in the in-between times when You ask us to hold on just a little bit longer.
Help us to trust You when dreams seem dead, when expectations seem dashed, when hope seems doomed. Remind us that You are the God who puts tendons, and flesh and breath into dry bones (Ezekiel 37:4-6)—whether they be nations, relationships, hopes, plans, or bodies.
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