God’s Timing

Of the gospel writers, only John includes the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus’s good friend, Lazarus. For reasons John maybe didn’t know or just chose not to disclose, the Carpenter took a special liking to Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. Even before Mary put some really special stuff on Jesus’s feet.

Being as how they were really close to Jesus, you’d figure that as soon as Jesus heard that Lazarus was really, really sick, he would get over there really, really quick.

You’d be wrong. According to John’s account, Chapter Eleven, Jesus hung out right where he was for a couple more days. Even when he knew that Lazarus was dying. Even when he knew Lazarus was dead. Even when his disciples misunderstood what he meant when he said he was going to go wake Lazarus up. Even after he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.”

And he probably knew that when he got there, the sisters would blame him: “Lord, if you’d been here, our brother would not have died.”

That’s kind of how we are, isn’t it? “You know I’m sick, Lord. Why haven’t you fixed it yet?” “You know what I’m dealing with here; why haven’t you made it better?” And on and on and on we go.

Because we don’t know what God knows. Because we don’t know what his plan is. Because his timing is not our timing and his ways are not our ways. Because he’s God and we aren’t.

Because some things are intended for God’s glory and not for our satisfaction. And sometimes, we play a key role in those things.

Kind of a privilege, really, isn’t it? Not always fun, true. But still a privilege. And, on my better days, I’d have to say that playing a part in God being glorified is considerably more satisfying than having fun.