"Lord, the one You love is sick." — John 11:3
It’s a simple prayer. Many times the more desperate we are, the more needy we are, the more simple our prayers become. "Help!" I remember times when I was so sick that all I could pray was, "O God! O God! O God!" over and over again because my brain couldn’t contain anything more. There was no theology, just raw need and a Father in heaven.
This is also a prayer of expectation. Mary and Martha knew where they stood with the Lord. Jesus could do what He wanted, and they knew He wanted the best for their brother, Lazarus. They knew that Jesus cared deeply about him. The implication is clear. They expected Jesus to clear His schedule, and bring Lazarus back from the brink of death.
God chose this prayer to something extra, something far beyond what anyone imagined would happen. He chose this prayer as an opportunity to show us that no problem is ever too big for God to solve.
How did He do that? He let the problem get worse. I mention this because this is where many of us are right now. We have a problem. We’ve asked God to take it away. And He has responded by letting it get worse.
What is God doing? I don’t know. I just know that when everything we hoped for dies, God is planning a resurrection. He is able, and He will bring it about for you.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.