Welcome to our newest CD writer, Lynne Hunt! She is a retired UNC faculty member, lives in Briar Chapel and enjoys taking classes (art, writing), her book club, and playing with her two little granddaughters.

John 11:1-44

Have you ever found yourself frustrated as you waited on God? You pray and pray and pray and it turns out God’s answer and timetable often look radically different than what you asked for. As the Christian author, Anne Lamott, states, “Believing isn’t the hard part; waiting on God is”. She goes on to lament how often she finds herself “praying impatiently for patience.” I can relate!

Everyone in the story of Lazarus is waiting on God in one form or another. Lazarus, a beloved friend of Jesus, becomes ill and his sisters, Mary and Martha, send word to Jesus. “Lord, the one you love is sick” (John 11:3). Jesus listens and replies, “This sickness will not end in death, No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (John 11: 4). He has a plan. 

Meanwhile, Mary and Martha are anxiously waiting for Jesus. And perhaps Lazarus himself was trying to hold on until Jesus’ arrival. 

Jesus, along with his disciples, lingers two more days before he decides it is time to head back to Judea to see Lazarus. Jesus tells them Lazarus is dead and asserts that this is a good thing, “so that you may believe” (John 11:15).

When they finally arrive, Lazarus has been buried in the tomb for four days and many friends are there to comfort Mary and Martha. Both women tell him Lazarus would not have died if Jesus had been with them. Their prayers, their plan, was for Jesus to get there early enough to prevent Lazarus from dying. Martha’s faith remains intact, however, and she tells Jesus, “I believe you are the Christ” (John 11:27). 

Even though Jesus has another idea on how this whole thing will play out and has complete control, he is not unmoved by the weeping people surrounding him. This is important to note. He weeps along with them. 

The stone in front of the tomb is rolled back and Jesus calls out to Lazarus. Lazarus walks out, fully alive. Joy replaces tears. And because they saw this miracle, many more became believers at that moment in time. “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11: 25-26). This message and the gathering of more souls, so close to Jesus’ own death and resurrection, was always the plan. 

Waiting on God can take a variety of forms. There are times in life, however, when the situation is so dire, and the available evidence is so overwhelming that hope is slowly being extinguished. The sand is draining out of the hourglass, and you are watching every grain drop. In those moments, waiting on God can be very, very difficult. It helps enormously to know that Jesus is right beside us, feeling our pain and anxiety and working both in our situation and in us.  And that makes all the difference. 

Can you think of a time (or times) when you were waiting on God and were changed by the experience? How did you grow as a person and in your faith?