When it Feels Like God's Forgotten About You...

"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, 'Let us go back to Judea.'" ~ John 11:5-7

I've read the story of Lazarus many times, but I've never caught the intentional way in which John wrote this chapter until now. I highly recommend you read the whole thing, especially if you've been waiting on God in an area of your life, and you're low-key starting to get frustrated by how long it's taking you to get to the other side.

John starts this chapter by letting us know that a man named Lazarus was sick and that his sisters sent people to let Jesus know about it. During that time, they were probably hearing all about how he was healing everyone else and thought, "Surely, He will heal our brother too."

Jesus then tells the disciples in verse 4 that Lazarus' sickness will not end in death and that "it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it."

Then we go into verse 5, where John tells us that Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. And yet... when He heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days.

Given what He tells the disciples in verse 4, and the fact that we're then told that He loved them, our expectation would be for Him to rush to be by Lazarus' side so that He could heal Him. But that's not what Jesus does. He stayed where he was for two more days before beginning the journey towards Lazarus.

This brings to mind Proverbs 3:5, where we're called to trust in the Lord with all of our heart and not to lean on our own understanding.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Leaning on our own understanding would make us focus on the fact that it doesn't make sense for Jesus to wait two more days, if Lazarus is sick and needs healing. Trusting the Lord with all of our heart, however, would make us trust in Jesus' words when He says in verse 4 that Lazarus' sickness will not end in death. When He chooses to move becomes irrelevant because He has already spoken.

If God is not in a rush to change your situation, despite how grim things look right now, it's because there is an appointed time for him to show up and be glorified.

God making you wait is not an indication of Him not loving you.

God making you wait is not an indication that He doesn't care.

God making you wait is not an indication that He has forgotten about you.

It is an indication that He is moving in a way that will give Him the most glory.

Do not be discouraged as you wait on the Lord's timing. Just like He loved Lazarus and his sisters, He loves you and He cares about you too. At the appointed time, the Lord will move on your behalf, and you will realize that the wait was not only for your good but for His glory.