What Are You Up To, Lord? (Part 1)

Tough times are part of life. Though some days are like floating on the lazy river of White Water, other seasons of our lives are like hanging on to a life preserver while the tsunami is crashing down on our heads.

What is God up to when the tough parts of our life are more difficult than we could have ever imagined?

Martha and Mary were asking similar questions in John 11. They are sisters. They have a brother. Or, at least they had a brother. His name was Lazarus.

After choosing not to show up until after Lazarus had died, Jesus was faced with the grief stricken questions of his dear friends. Martha first, then Mary: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21, 32, NIV).

Have you been there? God, where were You when the difficulties overcame my coping skills? Where were You when the manageable morphed into the impossible? Where were You?

Look what God can do through the tough times in our lives.

1. Jesus can reveal Himself in a new way.

2. Jesus can grow our faith.

3. Jesus can bring glory to Himself.

4. Jesus can minister through us more effectively.

Jesus’ response to Martha shows some of what He was doing. He tells her: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26, NIV).

Jesus points out to Martha that He is the resurrection and the life. Jesus was telling, and soon would be showing, that He holds the power over death. He had already shown himself to be a great healer (see John 5 and 9 among many, many other examples in the gospels).

Martha, Mary, the disciples, even Lazarus knew the healing power of Jesus. Now, they would see the resurrection power of Jesus. Had Lazarus not died, they would not have known Jesus in this way.

In the midst of the overwhelming, the Lord will reveal Himself to you in new ways that let you expand your understanding of Him.

2. Jesus can grow our faith.

In John 11:26, Jesus asks Martha: “Do you believe this?” Do you believe that I am the resurrection and the life? Martha responds: “Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world” (John 11:27). What great faith! Before her brother starts tripping over his grave clothes, she proclaims her belief that Jesus is the One sent from God, the Messiah, the Anointed One.

Those overwhelming trials in your life give you great opportunities to grow in your faith. You can trust Jesus even more after He has seen you through the lowest of valleys and brought you out the other side. Still in the valley? Keep trusting. Keep growing.

To be continued…in my next article, scheduled for February 26