Throughნიმუში

God’s timing.

In a world which runs on deadlines, we often find God’s timing frustratingly slow and difficult to understand.

In the New Testament, we often read of Jesus healing people, but one of those in particular reveals something about God’s timing, and that is the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

There’s enough content in this story to fill many sermons, but one aspect is most important for us to notice: God's timing.

Word comes from Martha and Mary to say, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” Lazarus wasn’t some faceless, nameless person but Jesus’ good friend – “the one you love”. However, instead of immediately going to him, or even of just giving the word that he should be healed, we’re told that, “he stayed where he was two more days.”

This makes absolutely no sense, until we read what else Jesus says: “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” The pain that Martha and Mary felt was no less agonising than any of us might experience after the loss of a loved one. The grief enveloping the place was so intense that we’re told that “Jesus wept.” Yet the purpose of the delay in healing was “for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

We may struggle to understand how our situation will ever be resolved. It may seem interminable. The battle to make it through each day might be overwhelming, and we could be tempted to give up the effort. We need to trust in this one thing: God’s timing is perfect. As you rely on his strength and his ability to work all things together for your good, he will lead you into a spacious place. He will rescue you because he delights in you.

Some thoughts to ponder:

• How are you feeling right now (honestly!) about God's timing?
• How might you be able to remind yourself throughout the day that God's timing is perfect - and that he will be glorified as you trust in his faithfulness?