Trusting a Loving God When Waiting is Painful

I’ve often wondered what she thought when help didn’t come.

Not so much what she was feeling, in some way, I could imagine what she might have been feeling. Having also lost a brother, I know the searing pain of loss, the grief that weighs you down and threatens to take your breath.

But what was she thinking? When the only One who could help her, who could save her brother chose not to come, what thoughts flittered through her mind?

Here on the other side of history, we know how it all worked out. We know that Jesus showed up four days 'late', wept with the bereaved sisters, and then miraculously raised Lazarus from the dead. It was a bold, ‘remove-all-doubt’, type of move that led many to believe in His name.

But there in the middle of her sorrow, did she (Martha) begin to doubt His love? Did she question His motives? Did she plant seedling resentment in her heart? Did her faith waver?

Who would blame her if it did?

What about you? Are you stuck in the messy middle wondering about the motives of God? Trying to understand why He doesn’t show up? Refereeing the struggle between your heart and your head? Fighting to believe beyond the shadow of a doubt that God knows best?

Well, if that is you, if you’ve ever been there or know someone who has, I’m inviting you to walk with me as we take a closer look at Jesus’s motives and Martha’s resolve in the events surrounding the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

‘Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.’ ~ John 11:5-6 ESV ~ (emphasis mine)

Did you get that? Jesus chose not to go when he was called because of his love for them. Do you struggle to accept that? He knew the pain they would experience, yet he chose to stay where He was. You see, Jesus knew the life-changing, life-affirming impact His planned deliverance would have, so He loved them enough to hold out for them (and the witnesses) to experience this better thing.

And what is this better thing?

Let’s look at Jesus’s words-

“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.” ~ John 11: 4b ~

“Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” ~ John 11: 14-15 ~

That you may believe in the Son of God.

In the verses following, the word ‘believe’ is used six times. It is that important. To believe that Jesus is the Son of God sent by God is the only thing. It changes everything.

That we may believe in His name was important to Jesus then and it is just as important to Him now. He knows that this is the only way for us to ‘have life and have it abundantly.’ (John 10:10)

Oh, I pray for faith like Martha’s. She knew who Jesus was and she believed that nothing was impossible for him. Even through tears, even surrounded by the stench of death, she knew her God. She knew that both immediate deliverance and eternal deliverance were within His power and she trusted Him to know which was best. Inspiringly, despite her painful circumstances, she remained confident of His love.

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” ~ John 11:21-22 ~ (emphasis mine)

She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” ~ John 11:27 ~ (emphasis mine)

What do you believe? Right here, in the midst of all the uncertainty, what do you know for certain? Is your head telling you one thing and your heart another? Do you run to meet Jesus expecting a miracle? Or have you given up in believing that miracles are possible?

My friend, I know 2020 has been crazy. Life for many of us has been turned upside down and we may feel confused, overwhelmed, afraid, or in the very least, unsettled. Like Martha, we may be wondering where God is in the chaos. But please remember this, He is never late; He knows the pain and/or confusion we may be experiencing yet because of His great love for us, He is choosing the better thing.

‘And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.’ ~ Romans 8:28 ~

We can trust His heart. He will deliver us. In His way. In His timing. Miracles are still possible. And through it all, God will be glorified. May we have faith strong enough to believe that.

Won’t you pray with me?

Dear Loving Father,

I am amazed at you and your great love for us. Thank you for the hope and peace found in your word. Thank you for loving us enough to take us through the painful wait to the glory on the other side. Help us to believe in your goodness, to trust in your loving heart, and to run to you in great expectation of your power.

In Jesus's Name we pray. Amen.  

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You can read the incredible account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11:1-44.

Grace and peace to you,

Carlie

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Live Amazed - Embracing the Gifts of God in Longing, Loss, and Life is a 30-day devotional that helps to steer our hearts towards God in the midst of our secret longings, staggering losses, and day-to-day worries.  Through scripture and real-life struggles, these daily reflections invite us to embrace the peace, hope, and grace God so freely offers us. 

You can read a free sample devotion here or purchase your very own copy here. 

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Trusting a Loving God When Waiting is Painful

Wholly - My One Word and the Battle of the Wills

I’m not good at multitasking.

In fact, I don’t believe true multitasking is even possible.

There, I’ve said it. An unpopular opinion for sure, and probably one that sets me up for pitiful glances and lots of assumptions about my less-than-efficient life.

But I’m being honest, I really don’t think the brain is designed to focus fully on more than one task at a time. I believe we are most efficient when we wholly focus on a single thing at a time.

Singly focused.

Yes, that’s the way to go for me.

Except that I can be singly focused to a fault. I can get so zoned in on a project that all other areas, in need of attention, fall to the wayside. I don’t have to convince you, you already know. That’s not good.

So, in walks that elusive word—Balance. Is it even possible? And how do I find it, if it is? I strive to find it. But often, it feels like I’m groping in the dark. Am I the only one?

Yet my mind keeps wandering back to being ‘singly focused’—the zone in which I do my best work.

And then it dawns on me, or rather, God revealed it to me.

What if I’m singly focused on God, His purpose and plan for my life? What if my single focus in life was to bring God glory in everything I do? (1 Corinthians 10:31) The more I thought about it, the clearer it became. This path would lead to true balance, the kind God designed for me, living in the center of His will.

As I pondered on what that would look like in my day-to-day, I realized a two-step process was necessary. Step one, recognize that God is wholly God and two, step down from my seat on the throne.

Sounds a lot like the Christian life, doesn’t it? Accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord of my life and following Him. Alignment of my will with His.

But that’s when my hypocrisy stepped forward and slapped me right in the face.

Turns out I’m a multitasker after all.  I switch back and forth between God’s will and my will . . . in rapid succession . . . daily . . . even as a Christian. Sometimes I even attempt them both at once.

The problem, it seems, is that I fight to sit on the throne with God. I don’t want to give up my seat (I feel drawn to its illusion of power and control), so I try to nudge God over so that we could share the seat. It’s as if I want to be God, too. (In my own life, anyway.)

But God, He loves me too much to let this nonsense continue. He has been wooing me, reminding me, showing me that He alone is God. He wants me to know that I can wholly trust Him because He is wholly God.

Wholly:  entirely, perfectly, completely, in a whole or complete manner, solely, exclusively, to the exclusion of other things, without exception

Wow!

This year, He tells me to step down. Double mindedness is not what He wants for me. For me, His precious child, one He chose even before I was born, He offers a full, abundant life. (John 10:10) And the only way, He promises, is through being single-minded, singly focused on Him and His lavish gift of grace which reveals Him in all His glory.

It’s all about Him.

Gently, He re-adjusts my focus and my fight. Rather than fight to hold on to my seat on the throne, He infuses me with the courage to keep fighting to live a life wholly devoted to Him. A life, He reminds me, that is only possible because of the victory He has already won for me. (1 John 5:4) I breathe a sigh of relief because I know, on my own, I don’t have what it takes.

So, my friend, if you’re like me, if you’re guilty of multitasking in your Christian walk, struggling to surrender fully to God in all aspects of your life, I share two words of encouragement.

Fight on!

You may feel like you’re losing the battle many a day, but God has already won the victory, a victory He so graciously shares with us. And what’s more? He has given us everything we need for living this godly, single-minded, sold-out-to-God life. (2 Peter 1:3) 

So, keep fighting! Victory is ours!

What about you?

Looking back over 2019, in what ways did God reveal His character to you? 

Which attributes of God were clearly evident in your life?

How does God revealing Himself to you help you to surrender wholly to Him?

Grace and peace to you,

Carlie

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Wholly - My One Word and the Battle of the Wills

Looking to God for Help in the Fiery Middle

Easy is not my idol.

I’ve never wanted it easy. In fact, I value hard work. Sometimes, even a bit too much. (You can read about my love affair with effort, here.)

No, easy is not what I’m after.

But sometimes, I wish my fire was different.

I wish I could choose my struggles.

Struggles that stretch me and pull me and make me stronger in a predictable pattern.

Normal every day, garden variety struggles.

You see because even though easy is not my idol, predictability is.

I’d like a guarantee for all the hard work I put in.

You know, the kind that says my kids will turn out just fine because I’ve been a good parent.

Or that I listened to God, followed a path less trod, and although it is hard, the rewards at the end of the journey are exactly like the ones I conjure up in my mind.

But I don’t get to choose.

And the more I walk through the fires—the ones that God has chosen for me—the more I realize it’s a good thing.

Because God is after much more than I am.

He desires to transform me, not just make me stronger.

To rob me of my pride, which He knows stands in our way.

To draw me into His life so that I may reflect His glory.

So all of us who have had the veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. John 17:21 (NLT)

Yep, my goals for my struggles are just not ‘divine’ enough.

But I don’t like my fires. I don’t like the ones God has chosen. Yet I love how near God draws to me as I’m walking through them. How daily He reassures me of His presence, His power, and His protection.

Still, some days, I cry out, ‘Please turn the heat down, God!’ If you’re passing through a fire right now, you know the refining is not easy to bear. Yet I’m beginning to appreciate the chiseling that’s taking place, and I’m growing ever more grateful for His patience with me when I continually ‘kick against the goads’. (Acts 26:14b)

It is useless for you to fight against my will. Acts 26:14b(NLT)

What about you? Do you ever wish you could peep to the end of your story and know that it all turns out all right? Maybe then, you tell yourself, you can be bold and share your struggle. Maybe then it could encourage another because after all, it turned out fine.

But God doesn’t give us that. Instead, He gives us just a misty, refreshing spritz for each fiery step we’re on in the middle of our story.

And do you know what? With each spray you recognize that right here, caught in the blazing furnace, you’re not alone. God is with you.

Deep down, you know this is true. Because you feel it in the unexplainable peace that rushes in when fear tries to sear your faith, or in the strength you find to step into the fire day after day, or the light that shines in the darkest moments guiding your next step. You know God is with you.

And maybe someone else needs to know that, too.

Needs to know that we may not be sure of how our earthly story ends, but we can be sure of one thing--our God is with us always. He never leaves our side. He loves us, strengthens us, and is actively preparing a place for us.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 38-39 (ESV)

So no, I don’t like my struggles, and I’m not guaranteed the earthly ending I imagine, but I can walk through the fires because I’m not alone and my God, my fellow Fire-walker, wants much more for me than I want for myself. And. I. Can. Trust. Him. 

I hope this encourages you as you walk through your very own fire today.

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What about you?

Do you sometimes wish you could choose a different struggle? Or perhaps just see to the end of this one? Maybe you feel like you’re the only one being scorched by a fire today. Take comfort, my friend, you’re not alone. Our God is greater than the blaze, and He’s right there with you; may you find strength in Him today.

And one more thing, if you’ve been comforted by God’s refreshing misty presence in the middle of your fire, why not reach out to another, yes, right there in the fiery middle, why not invite them to share in the relief God offers? Who knows who you might encourage today.

Grace and peace to you,

Carlie

@Embracingtheunexpected

(Post image by Kiên Trịnh from Pixabay)

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Looking to God for Help in the Fiery Middle