In The House Of Misery God HelpsSample

God’s Delays Are Never Denials Our text unveils another facet of the purpose in the pain. Not only was God to get the glory, but this miracle would help the disciples in their quest from doubt to belief. Jesus had already said that Lazarus’ sickness would not end in death and He also said that he was asleep and that He would go and wake him up. The situation was grave. Lazarus was already dead. But now He says, “But let us go to him.” Thank God for the BUT! This changes the mood of the story and now Jesus is moving towards the miracle. The reason for the delay was that the disciples would learn something about who Jesus is. What is the lesson that we can learn from this? It is the simple truth that God’s delays are never His denials. God's delays are the delays of love, they are not the delays of indifference. Even if your situation, your dream, your job, your marriage, your children, your health are seemingly DEAD, God can still interject a BUT! When we say that God's delays are the delays of love, this is something positive. His delays are purposeful. Love has a purpose. In this passage, we find Jesus saying “and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. The reason for the delay was that the disciples would learn something about who Jesus is. Others also came to know Him as a result of the delay. So hang on! Don’t give up. Jesus arrives in Bethany after four days, after the Jews had already legally pronounced his death. Jesus arrives after rigor mortis had set in and the body had already begun to stink. It was a terrible situation, but Jesus was now on the scene! What is the lesson that we can learn from this? The message is that God wants maximum glory out of our situations! He wants to bless us, BUT He wants to do it in such a way that there will not be any confusion on who the originator of the blessing was. God does not want His glory taken by man. God does not want you to give His glory to someone else. He often waits until the situation is beyond human possibility before He manifests His Divine Power! So no matter who you are and no matter how dead your situation may seem, when God shows up, He can make the world’s impossibilities a reality in your life. Quote : "God is never in haste. He never comes too soon or too late. 'The Lord shall help them, and that right early.' Sennacherib's army is round the city, famine is within the walls. Tomorrow will be too late. But tonight the angel strikes, and the enemies are all dead men. So God's delay makes the deliverance the more signal and joyous when it is granted. And though hope deferred may sometimes make the heart sick, the desire, when it comes is a tree of life" – Alexander MaClaren Application question : Are you willing to trust God, even when it looks like you should give up all hope? God can revitalize your dead dreams! Will you believe Him to do it? Prayer : Lord, I thank You for the buts. I thank You that Your delays are not denials but delays of love with a purpose. Help me to wait patiently. Amen