Let me tell you why I feel so many goose bumps rise, and tears flow from my eyes when I sing this song, “My God is Awesome” First of all, I mean it with ALL MY HEART!!! I know my life has a purpose, and for how long, only God knows. But I know He loves me, even if all my prayers aren’t answered while I’m on this earth.
As I grow in my relationship with Jesus, and have been in the hard waiting areas, I see now that God was always true to His promises. It didn’t feel at all like that in the beginning of my walk with Him. I remember reading scripture like, 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness.” Or Romans 8:28 “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” All I remember saying sometimes is, “really God?” Shaking my fist at Him and crying out, “where are You in this.? Why don’t I feel any of these promises in Your word?” Well, all I can tell you is I never gave up on God and seeking Him for His truth. For some reason, I never questioned His love. I know that He had BIG shoulders, and deep down inside I felt that He was hurting with me. He showed me that He cries with me and understands my questions and pain in John 11: 35.
I love the story of Lazarus in John 11, who was sick and even died because Jesus delayed in going to Mary and Martha even though He loved them all so much. As you seek God, and read the stories in the bible, you begin to have a better understanding of things that happen in life that cause pain and heartache and why He delays sometimes. We have to remember, we all have been called according to His purpose, and His will. The question we should all ask ourselves is, are we willing to be used by God? Will we allow Him to use us, or our loved one to glorify Who He is? Even Jesus prayed for His Father to take the cup from Him if He was willing, Luke 22:42. Jesus knew what pain He was going to go through. He was so scared, He sweat blood, but He wasn’t going to give up.
Jesus says in verse 4 of John 11, “This sickness is not unto death, but for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” But even death of a believer can bring God glory, because many can come to Christ by seeing the strength and faith of the one who is dying. It’s a strength that we all need, and you would think, most of us want in times of weakness. I’ve seen it, and it truly has made my faith stronger and fear of dying less. Matt from my church died a few years ago at a young age. He was a husband and a father of 3, and helped many of us to see that it’s not what Jesus will do for you. He didn’t heal Matt of his cancer, and He may not heal you or a loved one of some illness or condition, but God is still good. God just calls some of us home earlier than others. Matt’s life and death brought much glory to God. I know He never questioned God’s love either. He talked much about Who Jesus is, and what He’s already done for us. He died for the sins of us all. If you are a believer of this, and He is Lord of your life, you rest in knowing the promise that Jesus said, He has prepared a place for us, John 14: 2-3. To me, this is the ultimate promise that keeps believers running this race on earth to the finish line, and to bring as many with us as God puts in our path. This pain we go through, and this world we live in is only temporary.
So why did Jesus delay in going to Martha and Mary? He also said to his disciples “I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe.” Jesus not only healed Lazarus, He raised him from his death. Nothing is impossible for Him, but, God is more concerned in growing our faith than making us comfortable. The hard waiting times, when God seems far away, can enlarge our view on Who He is if we would continue to trust and believe. He is a God Who loves us more than we know, and wants us to know Him as a loving Father. His power is available to us all in dealing with things that are devastating. I believe that is why He delayed.
Until we come to understand and believe at our deepest and innermost level that God is love, we will struggle with trusting Him. When we continue to believe that God is love, even when we don’t see or feel it, that is when we grow more and more spiritually. Verse 45 of John 11 says, MANY had seen the things that Jesus did that day and believed in Him. But some went away and plotted to put Him to death, verse 53. Why, after all they witnessed would they want to kill Him. That is something that I will never understand, just like now, how many people hate Christians, and some countries are forcing many to convert or die. But the bible tells us, that is what will be in this world. This just proves to me more and more that my faith is real, it’s love!!! We don’t kill anyone who doesn’t want to convert to Christianity, we love and pray for them.
There is SO MUCH to be spoken to our hearts in this story. It hits home for me because I’ve been there, in the grieving and questioning like Mary and Martha many times in my life. I’ve seen God heal when I thought it was near the end, when doctors had another plan. I’ve seen Him fight for my marriage when I wanted to give up. I’ve seen God bring some of my lost loved ones to salvation. I see how He provides all my needs, not wants. I see how prayers are unanswered, yet I still have peace. God is good, ALL the time. I pray you will grow in your relationship with Him to see that.
So I sing…… “My God is Awesome. He can move the mountains. Heals me when I’m broken, strength where I am weakened. PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!!”
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Here is a quote written from honorbound.org>>>>>>>>What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe?
Sadly, the signs don't always bring faith. Those who are determined not to believe always need more proof.
Our response to a miracle can reveal our level of self-centeredness. When we refuse to believe, we realize that in matters of faith, seeing isn't believing. But for those who choose to see, the evidence is overwhelming. So perhaps the best question isn't "what has Jesus done for you?" Rather, we should be asked, "what have those great moments taught you to believe?"
…..mvdevotional.blogspot.com
Kim
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