Before you read this post, I highly recommend turning your Bible to John 11 where we see Jesus raise His friend Lazarus from the dead. If you do not have your Bible on you, do not worry I will do my best to recap its main aspects.
Last year in my Summer Series, I wrote a post on the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead, so when the Lord laid it on my heart to write about it again, I was honestly a bit hesitant. I was afraid people would think it was lazy or repetitive, but I know this is from the Lord. I should follow His lead not the possibility of judgment from other people. The wonderful part of this is that it proves the Word of God is living and active; we could read the same story every day and gain something different from it.
To give a short summary, Lazarus, Jesus’ friend is dying, and word is sent to Jesus to come heal him. Jesus waits to go to Bethany despite the fact that He knows the seriousness of his sickness, and when He finally shows up, Lazarus has already been dead for four days. Jesus has been close friends with Lazarus and His sisters, Mary and Martha, for a long time, and as He arrives, Martha runs to Him with Mary sitting “still” and tarrying behind.
Anyone who has read about Mary and Martha in detail knows that not running to Jesus’ feet is so out of character for Mary. She is almost always seen just sitting at the feet of Jesus and refusing to work, often irritating her sister. I have always felt like between the two, I relate to Mary the most. I love praying and reading the Word, but I can sometimes not serve as much as I should. I completely understand why Mary just wanted to listen to Jesus, I would do the same thing.
A lot of you know that the last couple of months have been some of the most difficult of my life. My cousin Joseph passed away in a car accident in March, my cousin Jessie had a cancer scare also in March (praise God it was just scar tissue), my aunt Kaka was diagnosed with breast cancer and is going through chemo right now, and my friend, Cam, from high school just recently died in a car accident. It seemed like when circumstances could not get any worse, they did.
I am not saying this to gain sympathy, I am saying this so you can gain perspective on where I am coming from. I have been the Mary. I was her just a couple of weeks ago to be transparent. I felt a lack of motivation to pursue Him as passionately as I had been. It was never anger, but it was indifference which is probably just as dangerous if we let it sit in our spirits for too long.
Part of the issue with my indifference towards God was that I simply did not know what to say to Him. It felt like the entire world was upon my shoulders, and I just could not come up with the right words to explain that feeling. I really did want to be around Him though.
The night before my aunt’s first chemo treatment, I was broken. I opened my Bible just hoping and praying He would speak to me, give me something for all of us to take to chemo the next day. I found myself in John 11 which is possibly the most marked up chapter in my Bible, and I was like, Lord, clearly I know this story like the back of my hand. His Spirit seemed to whisper back, Look again, My daughter.
He revealed Mary’s behavior in a way like I never had noticed before. Mary reacts to the loss of her brother the exact same way I reacted to the trials I was currently in. She sits still in the house when usually she is the first one to be right where Jesus was. When she finally comes to Him, she mutters out how she does not understand His timing, and at the sight of her pain, it says Jesus “groaned in the spirit.” Finally, He brings Lazarus back to life, and all the people glorify God.
As I read this through tear filled eyes, my playlist was on shuffle, and one of the only two songs on my phone about Lazarus’ story came on. I began to weep as the Holy Spirit reassured me that I was not alone in how I felt. A famous woman in the Bible known for her love for Jesus experienced the same hurt. I knew right then that I had to push back the enemy from further filling my mind with lies and instead lean on Jesus even if I did not know the words I should say to Him.
I write this post to encourage you today if you are the Mary just like me. I encourage you to keep pressing on and lean on Him even when you have no clue what to say. Jesus was hurt by Mary’s hurt, and it is the same with yours and mine.
The truth is, I do not know what is in store for any of our futures. I do not know if our situations will get a miracle like in John 11. I cannot promise physical healing, financial breakthrough, or success. I do know through the power of God they are absolutely possible though. What I can promise are the promises found in God’s Word. I can promise healing for your soul, I can promise that God will provide what you need, I can promise He knows His plans for your future. I know He will comfort you and give you peace if you just come to Him and claim His promises.
God’s Will for Mary, Martha, and Lazarus was the best will. It was better than their will. I believe wholeheartedly this is the same in our lives. No matter how difficult life can be, He is working it all together for our good.
