We all face trouble. Jesus told us we would. But amid that trouble, often what we need is not simply a new set of circumstances; it’s a new set of eyes. Why? Because the perspective we choose in hardship has the power to either thwart or secure our victory.
Think about your life for a minute. When faced with tough times, which emotion settles in your heart: fear or faith? The story in John 11 shows us the invaluable nature of choosing the latter.
Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha, were Jesus’ friends. The chapter starts by telling us Lazarus had grown extremely sick. So, the sisters sent word to Jesus, hoping He would visit them and heal their brother, but Jesus didn’t come right away. He stayed where He was two more days, and within those two days, Lazarus died. When Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days!
As Jesus approached Lazarus’ home, Martha ran out to meet him. She expressed her frustration first: “Lord… if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” But she didn’t allow that frustration to overtake her heart. Her next sentence proved her faith: “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
Martha’s response to her trial is a prime lesson on how to believe for a miracle. First, we must be honest with ourselves and with God about how we feel. Martha first expressed what she felt, so that she could then move onto what she knew. It’s only when we acknowledge our weakness that we can accept God’s strength.
Then, we must choose consecration to God and His ways, even when they make no sense to us. Martha didn’t stay stuck in her disappointment. She spoke in faith, declaring that Jesus still had the last word. In every instance, submitting to God’s way, even when we don’t understand it, will cause peace to flood our hearts.
The story ends with Martha receiving her miracle, but first, Jesus asked for Martha’s profession of faith one more time. He said, “…Your brother will rise again… I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (Verses 23, 25-26)
Martha responded, “Yes, Lord! I believe!” So Jesus did the impossible: he brought Lazarus back to life.
Then and now, our God is a God of miracles! He delights in meeting us in our deepest graves and darkest days and calling us back to light and life. If we’ll embrace our struggles with divine confidence, like Martha, we’ll experience miracles greater than we could’ve known to ask for.
What challenge do you find yourself in today, friend? I encourage you to embrace it with hope in Jesus, being honest about your weaknesses and submitting to God’s strength. Our God can turn any grave situation into a testimony of His goodness!
