I think this is one of the more interesting and perplexing passages in Scripture:
(John 11:1–6)
1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,
Can you imagine the frustration of Mary and Martha who, I’m sure thought Jesus would immediately respond.
You’ve felt that frustration in your life, haven’t you! God, I need you to help me.
- Would you please make him love me back?
- Would you please heal me of the chronic pain?
- Would you please allow us to get pregnant?
- Would you please help me get this job?
And nothing. So you pray more.
And still you wait. And nothing seems to change.
Sometimes God will wait 2 days. Sometimes it’s 2 months, 2 years, or even 2 decades. Sometimes there’s an obvious reason and sometimes there’s not, but we can never forget this simple truth: God is in charge.
And here’s a little encouragement for you today:
Just because your dream is delayed doesn’t mean it’s denied.
Have you ever been in a hurry when God wasn’t?
If Jesus turned up in our towns and cities today I’m sure he’d be picketed for not doing enough to help the poor. Only my whole life.
Have I ever been n a hurry when God isn’t? Well, not today, but it is early! I do like the encouraging thought and also the line from Garth Brooks song ‘Unanswered Prayers’: “Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.”
I do live a blessed life and I shutter to think where my life would be had I been left to my own devices. Not a pretty picture.
Yes, I have been in a hurry when God wasn’t a lot of times. I always thought I would be at a different place in my life.. married, traveling and having the house. I can relate to this sermon series as well as Plan B.
After getting bumped from my teaching job in June 2011 I have had more trouble getting an interview in the school district I worked in for over 4 years. I keep telling myself, ‘Everything happens for a reason and all things work together for the good.’ But it’s hard not to worry and think I have not tried hard enough etc. My goal is to teach at a Christian school and impact students lives for Christ. So, I am always in a hurry and need to be reminded to slow down.
Yes. Actually most of the time. It’s what I wrote about today.
thanks, Pete! exactly what I needed to hear today…
I’m laying in my bed right now – week 4 of bedrest. but I’m NOT complaining. After trying to get pregnant for 6 years, and reading your book, Plan B, over & over & over…we are experiencing a miracle.
I’m now 12 weeks pregnant – no fertility drugs used.
It BLOWS my mind and just proves over & over how bizarre and perfect God’s timing is. This wasn’t my timing, that’s for sure, but I’m now trusting in His more then ever before.
Almost every day… well, actually maybe every day in one way or another! I am certain that most times that He chooses to answer WHEN He does is so that I will remember that HE is God and I am not.
Thank you for the reminder.
Love this, Pete. Never thought about that passage of scripture like that. Glad that wait doesn’t mean no.
I’ve been there plenty of times. This is a great reminder that we are to seeking him, and his will. We are the servant not the master. Thanks for posting this.
Yes, I’m often in a hurry whether God is or isn’t. I’ve been learning a whole lot about patience and waiting lately.
I read Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive by John Eldredge last week and in it he writes about when Daniel prayed and fasted for 21 days after having one of his really disturbing dreams… and FINALLY “a man” came to him, telling him God heard his prayers from the very beginning and dispatched him to go to Daniel, but he was held up fighting the prince of Persia and had to get help from Michael so he could finally get to Daniel. 21 days later.
Might it be that our times of “waiting” are really very busy times that we just don’t know about? I forget that I have an enemy – much of what I seem to hear is “I” am my own worst enemy, but I may not be, especially with Christ in me. There is nothing our enemy would like more than to see our prayers and desires foiled, leave us hopeless, challenge our trust in God, thinking we’re to blame…
I’m excited to hear what you have to say in your next series at CP. Interesting timing on this one, at least for me.
Thank you Pete. I needed this today. Good word.
“Have you ever been in a hurry when God wasn’t?”
I hardly ever dispute “WithoutWax,” but I personally don’t think that God is in a hurry, nor is He dallying around. He is God and I am NOT! Therefore what is going on right now is exactly what He wants no matter what I think or how humanly injust it may seem. Hey, let’s be honest folks, more good happens than bad on a given day. Why don’t we concentrate on the good. I am sure there is a scripture to back that up. Where my scholars at?
God is certainly in charge. That I know for sure.