God's Silence, God's Timing

John 11:4 - [Jesus said] "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." 

 

After writing last Thursday's blog about God's timing and how sometimes we need to let something die in order to allow a new thing to emerge, I read the story of Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus.  I noted a similarity and the confirmation of the truth that it's all about God's perfect timing in all things, even when He seems silent. Look at nature. Trees, shrubs and flowers come and go with the seasons. Such are the seasons of our own lives. 

 

Lazarus and his sisters were very close friends with Jesus. One day while Jesus and His disciples were in another city, He was given word that Lazarus was ill, close to death. The sisters sent for Jesus because they knew He could heal him. When Jesus heard, He told His disciples they were to stay where they were a couple more days. The disciples were undoubtedly confused that He did not rush off to help His friend and comfort these sisters. For the sisters, as well, His silence, His not showing up, was difficult to understand. But Jesus knew what He was doing...and it would be because of His silence, His not being in what probably would have seemed to be the right place at the right time, that people would understand.

 

So, two days later Jesus arrived only to find the sisters grieved, maybe even angry, that He had allowed Lazarus to die. But Jesus' timing was perfect for a one reason: to show the glory of God. Jesus did one very, touching thing, despite knowing what He was able to do.  He wept. (John 11:35)  Then He called Lazarus out of the tomb. He emerged in his grave clothes. He had been miraculously brought back to life. This incident was to reveal God's glory in an impossible situation. Now many people, Jews as well as Gentiles, would believe Jesus was the Son of God, the One who He spoke of.

 

Similar things like this can happen in our lives, as individuals, families, churches, when something needs God's power to bring back to life. He allows a death of some sort to occur, sometimes even needing to force the issue, in order to prove His power to revive.

 

In our church we've experienced a "death" of sorts. It has caused some strife and a lot of grief with a lot of questions as to how and why this happened. I believe it's yet another part of God's perfect, although not quite understood, timing for our church, the congregation and even the pastoral staff.

 

In this time of questioning and upheaval, as it were, we are being tested, we are just being given another chance to see what we are made of. Will we succumb to the world's standards of jugment or will we act as godly people? And--He will, in time, His perfect time, rebuild and heal. 

 

I pray that we do not allow ourselves to grieve God and harden our hearts because of this but allow unquestioned healing to take place. He is silent for now but if we trust in Him His timing and His glory will be revealed.

 

Psalm 46:10 - Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.