From Grief to Belief

21 Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live" (John 11:21-25)

Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus had been close friends to Jesus - like family. So when Lazarus became gravely ill, Mary and Martha sent for Jesus - certain that he could heal their beloved brother. They trusted that Jesus' love for them would bring him quickly to save them from the pain of loosing Lazarus. But Jesus didn't come in time.

They may not have felt better knowing that Jesus' delay was planned; that Jesus knew the pain they would go through, the betrayal and disappointment they would feel, the anger. And still, he would wait.

Jesus knew the bigger picture, and that their eventual joy would outweigh their immediate sorrow.

We don't always understand the painful situations we go through, but we can always trust that God holds the entire story of our lives in hands more than capable of bearing our burdens, and in a heart more than willing to share our pain. If we just watch and wait God can turn our grief to belief and our weeping to rejoicing.

9 But as it is written:“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)