So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him; but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give You whatever You ask of Him.”(John 11:20-21)

I know full well the ability of Almighty God. At times, this is the place of greatest frustration. I have wrestled less with unbelief and doubt over my years and more with the, “Why not’s?!”

I have full faith in His miraculous ability to pull one from a pit or rescue one from a fire. Yet, my stubborn heart anguishes to watch and wait to see what Christ might do in a given situation when I know good and well HE IS ABLE!

Yet, not always does He do what He can but always what He should.

Most of my closet arguments with Christ have involved a healthy reasoning with His kindness and goodness. His power and might! “Don’t you want to show yourself mighty in this, Lord?”

I’ve felt the same sting of Mary and Martha who watched Lazarus die. “If you had just been here Lord…” They knew of His supernatural ways and in the discourse, I see no unbelief whatsoever. On the contrary, they knew well of His healing nature. Like Martha, I would have rushed to Him ready to pour out my sorrow also but also prodding His Kingship and love for humanity to bid one more request, “But even now…

Yet, for some reason, only Christ knew Lazarus would die. Somehow, Lazarus must die.

Hidden in a grieving moment was an opportunity for the name of the Lord to be made great. The focus is on Him rather than on the man. His ways are so above our own. I confess my own heart would have been focused on the man.

Perhaps it is the place of our deepest sorrow often that our wish is for our own benefit rather than the benefit of God? We can wrestle for days with the “Why’s.” But I’ve found the most difficult test is trusting even when the prayer remains unanswered. Trusting even when He seems silent. Trusting even when the answer clearly opposes what I desire.

I find myself often desiring the many things of which Christ whispers, “No.”
Even the silence can raise an angry eyebrow as I sit before the Lord where I have to wrestle out my emotions until I’m too tired to wrestle anymore.

Eventually, the little girl has to give way to her Father and trust He is still working things for good. He is still a good, good Father. He is still watching over me. He is still with me and He still loves me.

Like Martha, my own responses can be child-like and rather dramatic because I know enough about Christ to know that truly nothing is impossible with Him.

Perhaps, you’re in this type of season also. Perhaps you are waiting on a miracle and have become frustrated because you know Jesus is fully capable of meeting your need. Perhaps you are sick in body and have stood, literally, on your Bible declaring the promises of God….yet, you are still waiting. Perhaps the answer came and it was not what you wanted in the least.

May we keep trusting, keep believing, keep pressing, keep walking.

You never know when He is about to perform a resurrection