DELIVERANCE THAT DOESN’T COME
A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Psalm 90:4
They were dear friends. The two had become close together, sharing their plans and lives. They enjoyed many meals together. Because they didn’t live near one another, their visits often lasted several days at a time. Because of that friendship, it seemed quite unusual that when one of them became deathly ill, his friend didn’t drop everything to come to his aid. In fact, by the time the traveling friend arrived, his dear friend had died and was already in the grave. What a callous way to treat a friend!
Perhaps you recognized that as the story of two friends named Lazarus and Jesus. These two were friends of several years. How then could Jesus be so uncaring as to arrive after Lazarus’ burial? The answer is that God’s times are not our times. Our finite minds are boxed in by time constraints. We rush to meet deadlines. We become anxious when we run behind schedule. We lose sleep wondering how we will get everything done. That is never the case with God.
David wrote in Psalm 13:1,2, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” Like the sisters of Lazarus, have you ever been disappointed with God’s timing? David was. Hannah was. Abraham and Sarah were too. Countless children of God have been disappointed. When will this depression end? When will I see an end to this habit? I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired!
Is it any wonder that patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit? Sometimes it is difficult for us to realize that God’s timeline lies in a totally different time zone. His delays are designed to prepare us, test us, and train us to place our utmost faith and confidence in him and his will for us.
Jesus finally arrived in Bethany. When he was ready, he raised Lazarus from the dead. The frustrations and disappointments over Jesus’ timing were all for naught. Jesus had a purpose for his timing then as he does now. There is a lesson here for us to remember. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Ps. 27:14).
Remember that God’s delay is meant to achieve his purpose for you.
From The Gift of Prayer