Listen

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Bethany was a little less than two miles from Jerusalem. Many Jews had come to comfort Martha and Mary after their brother’s death. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, while Mary remained in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. Even now I know that whatever you ask God, God will give you.”

John 11:17-22

Think

I can’t imagine how angry Mary and Martha must have been. Their brother Lazarus, whom Jesus loved, had died. He died when Jesus was less than two miles away! I imagine they felt powerless, that they felt helpless, and that they feared the story had ended for their brother.

Jesus and his friends weren’t where they wanted him to be. They had idled in Jerusalem. It doesn’t take Jesus long to walk two miles, perhaps under an hour! And yet, he wasn’t there.

Sometimes, it feels like God is absent from us when we are in pain. That God has taken “the scenic route.” The long way. The detour.

The challenge in this story is to be like Martha, trusting in Jesus to believe that God is at work.

Dan Miglets-Nelson

Pray

Dear Jesus, help me this day to trust in what you are doing.

Surround me with your love and care, even when it feels like you are far away.

Help me to know that you are still at work in my life.

Amen.

Go

Live today as a follower of Jesus, trusting in the promises of God.