did i not tell you?

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, you tell us that if we truly believe, we will see the glory of God.  Help us to believe.  Amen.

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Journal: What is God saying to you through the scriptures today? What are your places of deepest pain these days?  Where is God in the midst of those?  Can you trust his heart, even when you can’t see his hand?

Reflect: In the midst of our pain and our tears, John meets us with a God who weeps.  A God who is brokenhearted that we are overwhelmed with sorrow and sadness and loss.  It was not intended to be that way.  And in the midst of our grief he asks a simple, yet profound, question: Can we trust his heart, even when we can’t see his hand?  “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”  Even in this?  Even in the times of your greatest pain and heartache?

     The sisters did not know what Jesus was going to do when they went out to meet him on the road, with one question hovering on their lips: “Where were you?  If you would have been here, my brother would not have died.  Don’t you care?”

     Of course he cared.  Of course he still cares.  For he is the only one who can see the big picture.  He is the only one who can see the glory that for us is but a distant and fading hope in the midst of our grief and sorrow.  “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”  It is still true.  True for me and for you.  True in spite of the pain.  True in spite of the sadness.  True in spite of the loss.  We will see God’s glory again—each and every one of us.  And when we do, there will be no more tears, only eternal joy.  Thanks be to God!

     So give God your pain today.  Tell him your sorrows.  Pour out your sadness and your tears.  Do you believe he cares?  Do you believe he is heartbroken?  Do you believe he is with you in the midst of them, even if you can’t sense it at the moment?  Ask God to come to you in your pain with his love and his presence.  Let him speak to your broken and wounded heart.  Ask him who those around you are that are in deep pain.  Ask him how he wants you to be with them, how he wants you to be his tangible presence to them in the midst of their suffering.  Ask him how he wants you to engage in the suffering of your city and your world.  Listen for his response.

Pray

Closing Prayer:  Lord Jesus, help me to trust your heart, even when I can’t see your hand.  Amen.