In the Waiting

John 11:3-6

[3] So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” [4] But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

[5] Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. [6] So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

I heard a small message on this scripture today

- Jesus  loved Mary Martha and Lazarus

And he still stayed and waited 2 more days before going to them

Why?  

Answer is in vs 4

The sickness will not end in death For the glory and honor of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.

My pov …

Sometimes our waiting is for God to receive the glory.    

Jesus never stopped loving them, and could have answered their prayers instantly.   But he still waited two days.

(Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength)

Our waiting renews our trust and confidence in God!   It builds our faith.

And when He answers He receives more glory after two days of waiting, then if he answered instantly.

This is Giving me a new perspective of waiting…

There is this one mom (grandma) in El Salvador 🇸🇻  and At the key ceremony, our family had the privilege to pray for her and her family and hand the keys to this family. (Keys are a key to their home as well as a key to life - The Bible)

I had the Bible and the key in my left hand and I held her hand with my right hand.

I didn’t know what to pray, so I silently asked the Lord for words.

I began to pray

Lord I pray this home is a safe place, a place where people come to find shelter and find/meet the Lord.  I pray this place is a sanctuary and that many people will come to Christ in this house.  And I pray there will be a double blessing.

As soon as I said those words the grandma started bawling. And said that she has been praying those exact prayer for years.  

She then started to pray.   She prayed with tears, with passion and with heart.  Her prayer was too quick for the interpreter to interpret, so we stayed there listening to her passionately pray to the Lord.  Bringing tears to all our eyes.   Myself still holding her hand.  We stood there with her, one in Spirit as we listened to her outcry prayer to the Lord.   The interpreter told us she was thanking the Lord.

She has been waiting on the Lord for years for this home.   And her response was giving God all the Glory!

In this waiting, her faith and trust in God were growing.   

In the receiving, her outcry was of praise and thanksgiving.

Now going forward with her continued faith and trust in the Lord,  God will use her place as a sanctuary for people to meet Christ.  Specifically some of her family members that have yet to accept Jesus.

Praise God for our periods of waiting!   

Lots of love

Angela