Delay Is Not Rejection
Although Jesus loved
Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days and did
not go to them. Finally, after two days, he said to his disciples, "Let's
go to Judea again."
John 11:5-7 NLT
God often delays His response out of love, as He works all things together for good.
Jeanne Zornes
Waiting with hope
Mary and Martha had sent
their friend Jesus a message about the critical condition of their brother,
Lazarus, and their urgent need for his help: "Lord, the one you love is
very sick" (John 11:3). But instead of rushing off to Bethany, Jesus
stayed where he was for two days before responding to Mary and Martha's plea.
When he did arrive, he raised Lazarus from the dead in a magnificent display of
his power.
Just as Mary and Martha
struggled when Jesus answered their prayers for Lazarus in a time and way
different from what they had expected, we get frustrated when the Lord delays
in coming to us and answering our prayers.
As it did for the
grieving sisters, two days (or two months or two years) of waiting can seem
like an eternity to us. But in the midst of the "delay," God is not
inactive. He is teaching us patience, perseverance, and faith and is planning
to glorify himself in our circumstances. While we are waiting, he wants to cleanse
our hearts and refocus us on Jesus. The Spirit always knows what will glorify
God, and we can trust him when we're in the waiting room.
LORD, help me to wait
for you in hope and perseverance, knowing that you will come. Grant me patience
and faith in the waiting room of life yet to be.
Adapted from The One Year® Book of Praying through the Bible
by Cheri Fuller, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), entry for May 20.
Content is derived
from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale
Publishing House
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