Bigger picture!
“So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was…” (John 11:1-6).
He stayed away from Mary and Martha and Lazarus.
… longer?
Nobody does that.
If you hear that someone you love is in trouble, you get over to them fast.
Three times in the surrounding verses we read how deeply Jesus loved these three friends.
So why did He stay away?
We can totally understand why Martha’s face had a big question mark:
“Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
This is the hardest moment in any crisis.
From our perspective-
– the problem is growing,
– the prayers are rising,
– but the provision is not coming.
We draw a dotted line from delay to deception and conclude that-
God doesn’t love us and then spend many dark, disappointing nights believing our own lie.
Here’s an important truth gleaned from this situation:
God doesn’t love the way we love.
What appears unloving may in fact be the greatest kindness of all.
We expect God to work our solution on our timetable.
Can you imagine the complexity of the tapestry God is weaving in the universe?
We’re over here in our limited little corner without a clue about what’s going on in the bigger picture!
Faith says that what God is doing is right-even when we don’t understand.
I believe the whole tapestry will unfold for us someday.
But for now I have to believe-
– in spite of what I see that He is after my good and His glory in every situation.
I must trust that what appears unloving may in fact be His greatest kindness.
God is at work in your times of crisis.
Whatever is challenging and stretching you right now in your family, your workplace, or in your personal walk with God-
He is at work in that.
He is building your faith in every circumstance.
He knows all about that thing that is breaking your heart.
Will you believe He is at work?
(PA)