God’s timing vs. my impatience

Today’s reading began with assurance that God's slowness to respond to my needs does not indicate lack of love but shows that He does love me. Getting my prayers answered is not as important as believing that He cares — even without any current evidence.

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. . . . When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. . . . Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” (John 11:5–42)

Then this statement from Charnock: “We should not depend upon second causes for our support, but look beyond them to the authority of the Deity, and the dominion he hath over all the works of his hands.” Jesus wanted this sister of Lazarus to believe based on His words, not based on the visible evidence that they are true. He said her brother would live, but she wanted to see him live.

When I pray for the salvation of loved ones, I want to see them living in faith. Jesus wants me to trust Him, to have that faith in Him as my Sovereign King. This is trust that draws me to Him in all experiences and keeps me in worship mode due to His royalty. Sometimes I come to Him with emptiness instead of being filled with holy thoughts and the strength that faith gives. My heart should be regarding Him as who He is and what He says. I can then be obedient according to my awe of who He is:

If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 28:58)

When I consider the majesty of God, I should not enter into His presence with light or foolish thoughts, as if He is a mere buddy, or worse, a genie in a bottle. I should not read His Word as if it were the voice of some ordinary scribe. It should always produce a consideration of His majesty and  engender reverence in my obedience and make me speak of God with honor and respect. He is a great and glorious king, far above His greatest blessings and those ‘second causes’ that are so easy to elevate as more vital. “If You had been here…” really! How could I think that He is not, or unaware, or does not care about the threats to my trust.

When I suffer or when others suffer and it seems God is not with us, I should remain confident. I’m to wait. I’m to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15) and extend the love of Christ and the hope of salvation to all. And instead of hosting a pity-party, remembering that my time is short. We all are terminal. We all need to repent of telling God what to do and instead trust Him and live for His glory.

PRAY: Jesus, may Your goodness overwhelm me each day, even those days when it seems You are not here — but You are. You promised never to leave me. What do I believe? My feelings or Your Word? Enable me to live utterly for Your glory and for the joy of knowing You. Also enable me to trust You to gather the perishing into Your family, and to do whatever You ask me toward that happening.