Mary, her sister Martha and their brother Lazarus were dear friends of Jesus. He had frequented their home and grown to care deeply for each of them. Lazarus became seriously ill. The sisters sent word to Jesus expecting him to respond quickly. However, Jesus remained where he was for two more days before heading to Bethany to see Lazarus. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been in the grave for 4 days. When the sisters heard that Jesus was coming, Martha ran to meet him but Mary stayed home, probably stunned by grief and likely confused as to why Jesus didn’t come to their aid. Martha tells Jesus that Lazarus wouldn’t have died if he had been there, but she knows that God will give Jesus anything he asks. She recognizes that with Jesus on the scene, there is hope!

Scriptures
Pr 19:21; Jn 10:10, 11:1-7, 11, 16-17, 20-22, 25-26, 33-35, 43-44; Eph 2:4-5

Verse
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (Pr 19:21)

Thought
When we pray and pray and God is delayed in answering, it’s easy for doubt to creep in. We don’t see anything changing, time passes and although we know God has infinite power available to do more than we ask or think, we begin to doubt that He’s going to respond. Time may cause us to grow weary, numb and ultimately to die to the thought that anything is going to happen. Martha was disappointed and probably hurt that Jesus didn’t show up for her family, for Lazarus; yet, she knew in her heart that God isn’t bound by time or circumstance. She didn’t allow Jesus’ delayed arrival to crush her faith in God’s ability to act. She had seen Jesus’ miracles; she knew what could happen. When answer to prayer is delayed in our lives, the silence can foster doubt and our hope dies. Holding on to faith in God’s ability to act in each and every circumstance without time constraints is difficult but it is life-giving. We have a choice to either allow doubt to kill our hope or to celebrate the resurrection power that only God has. We can live in fullness and confidence as we recognize that God is listening; He is with us; He loves us!

Questions
Why didn’t Jesus come to Lazarus immediately? Why do you think Mary didn’t go to meet Jesus when he arrived? Why did Jesus weep? Do you have doubt about whether God is ever going to answer a prayer you have prayed, grant a desire of your heart? Is there something (a prayer) you have just given up on…died to the idea that it’ll ever be a reality? How do you comfort someone who is going through a long delay? Can we become so focused on a prayer that isn’t being answered that we ignore God’s many provisions and blessings? How can we guard our hearts from deadly doubt?

Response
Share with a trusted Christian friend a prayer on your heart that remains unanswered. Discuss why God may be delayed in answering. Decide how you are going to live while you wait. Focus on being thankful for God’s blessings and for the prayers that have been answered.

Prayer
Dear God, your timing is not mine. Help me to trust Your purpose in the timing of answered prayer. I know that You see the end from the beginning and my view is limited. Help my heart to trust Your higher purpose as I wait faithfully and devotedly for You. Wipe away my doubts and fears. Give me peace during the waiting seasons and a heart of thankfulness for all You have done in my life. In Your Holy Name I pray, Amen.