I remember writing a very short note on my whatsapp status, because I came across a post on Facebook. I went through the comment section of this very post, and saw how some individuals had given up on God due to one deadly sickness or the other, which seems to them that God had forsaken them. I was so down, and I could only pray for them. I prayed to God in a certain way, which I would share at the end of this article.
Today, one thing led to another, and another thing led me to the story of Lazarus in the bible. The story of Lazarus which is found in the book of John. John 11:1– 44.
Verse 1-16 Jesus’ friend Lazarus dies.
When the sisters of Lazarus had sent a message to Jesus that Lazarus was sick, Jesus made a statement in verse 4(kjv); He said “This sickness is not unto death, but for the for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby”.
When Mary and Martha sent unto Jesus in verse 3, they told Him that Lazarus was sick. But in verse 11, Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus was asleep, but He’s going to Judea to wake him from his sleep. Jesus in His spirit was aware of the situation Lazarus was in without receiving another message that Lazarus was dead. So many times, we believe God is not aware of our situation and that is why we go through what we go through. Sometimes we think He doesn’t love us and has forsaken us.
Verse 17-31 Faith/Belief
Lazarus had been laid in the grave for four days before Jesus arrived. When Jesus arrived, while Mary stayed in and kept weeping, Martha stood up to go meet Jesus. Verse 21 says “Then Martha said unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died”.
But verse 22 gave me a chill in my spirit. Martha said “But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou will ask of God, God will give thee”. She believed in Jesus, she believed Jesus could awake her brother. Same thing she said in verse 24: “I know he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day”.
Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life” and Martha replied in verse 27: “Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God” Most times, all God wants us to do in difficult situations is to trust Him, to believe in Him. Just like Martha did believe in the Son and the Father.
Verse 32-36 Jesus weeps.
When Jesus saw Mary weeping, and even the Jews weeping, He groaned in His spirit and was troubled.
35" Jesus wept.
We should not be ashamed to express our true feelings to God. Like Mary and Martha, we can be open to God; because He loves and cares for us.
Now verse 37, made me realize something. It says “And some of the Jews said, could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?”. Some of the Jews had already begun murmuring. Sometimes, God waits to do His miracles in the sight of people who have lost hope in Him. And even many times, we wait for the Lord in the midst of a terrible situation and wonder why He hasn’t responded quickly to our prayers. Often times, God allows our situation to go from bad to worse, because of the miraculous thing He’s about to do. A miracle that will bring great Joy and even greater glory to Him. You can imagine Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus when Lazarus was sick. But He came four days later after Lazarus had been laid in his grave.
Now verse 38-44 Jesus raises Lazarus.
Jesus had asked them to take away the stone on Lazarus grave, but Martha said Lazarus body would stink because he had been dead for four days. But they did that which Jesus said and rolled away the stone. And Jesus in verse 43 cried with a loud voice “LAZARUS COME FORTH” and Lazarus came forth. Jesus shared the power of eternal life triumphing over death to the crowd and to us.
Are you in a difficult trial like Martha and Mary, and it feels like God is taking too long to respond to your need? With this story of Lazarus, his situation was much worse. Even if your story or situation hasn’t been heard before or seems impossible to be settled, why don’t you go on your knees with all sincerity and ask God to glorify Himself through it. It is one way to get rapid answer to your prayer.
Beloved, God is calling you out of whatever dead situation you’re in. He is calling you out of brokenness to Wholeness.
I pray for you in the name that is above every other name! God will arise on your behalf and turn around every difficult situation for His glory in Jesus name.
God bless you
