The Gospel of JohnНамуна

Healer of Hearts.

In this moving passage, Jesus receives word that His friend Lazarus is sick. But instead of rushing to heal him, Jesus delays. By the time He arrives in Bethany, Lazarus is already dead, and his sisters, Mary and Martha, are deep in grief. Their pain is raw, and their questions are honest: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21, 32).

Jesus doesn’t rebuke them for their grief. Instead, He enters it. He sees Mary weeping, and the Bible says, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). This shortest verse in the Bible reveals one of the deepest truths—Jesus is not distant from our pain. He weeps with us. His love is not cold or calculated; it is compassionate, present, and real.

Sometimes God delays. Sometimes prayers aren’t answered in the timing we hoped for. But John 11 reminds us that delay is not the same as absence. Even when He doesn’t move how or when we expect, Jesus is still deeply involved. He cares. He loves. He enters into our hurt.

If you’re carrying grief or lingering disappointment, know this: Jesus welcomes it. You don’t have to pretend everything is fine. In fact, bringing your raw emotions to Him is the first step toward healing.

Persistent anger is another form of grief. You may be holding onto offense or frustration—toward someone, something, or even God. I’ve been there. A fleeting moment of anger is one thing, but when anger lingers, it distorts how we see others and ourselves. We stop being who we were created to be. And often, when we hold on to anger, we unintentionally let go of joy.

Jesus doesn’t just want to fix our circumstances—He wants to heal our hearts. And He starts by weeping with us.

Respond to God’s Word:

Take a moment to be honest with Jesus. Are you grieving, disappointed, or angry? Tell Him. Write out your emotions in a journal or pray them out loud. Then ask Him to meet you in that pain and bring comfort. Don’t rush the moment—just sit with Him. Let His presence bring peace where there’s been sorrow.