14/10/2023
TOPIC: DIVINE DELAYS
TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE: JOHN 11:1-43
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
EXHORTATION
Must difficult situations in the lives of genuine followers of Christ are merely a setup for the manifestation of God’s awesome wonders that will announce such a man to his generation. There are many times, we think in our hearts or even say it out boldly that God doesn’t answer prayers or He doesn’t love us or He doesn’t love us equally (being partial) because you have prayed, cried and had done everything in your power to get out of a situation and you get heart broken knowing how much you serve God and obey Him, yet your situation remains tough but I have good news for you, the night season will soon be over if you don’t faint (Psalm 30:5, Proverbs 24:10). Do not give up in the face of trials or pressure for it will only prolong the manifestation.
In some cases, like the case of Lazarus, God will first allow people to know some things about you to gossip about, then suddenly the light will come and those who judge your matter behind your back will be surprised (Prov. 23-18).
When Lazarus became sick, Jesus was informed because everyone knew how close Jesus was to Lazarus and his sisters but Jesus didn’t go to see him, He didn’t even pray for his healing, He only said the sickness was not unto death. The closer you are to God, the more God trust you to pass through some challenges that will bring glory to His name without giving up (1Corinthians 10:13), Jesus was sent to die for the world because God knows that this Son of His will not give up at the face of death even when the tough gets tougher (Matthew 27:32-56)
When you find yourself in such situation, people may even mock you like they did when they talked behind Jesus saying He was able to open blind eyes why then couldn’t He keep His friend Lazarus from dying. You must know and believe that the God you call day and night hears you, He has appointed a time for your answer to come that His name alone will be glorified (Isa. 59:1). When the expected turnaround comes, you and everyone around you will know that it can only be God (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Brethren, this is not the time to give up, it is the time to keep praying and thanking God for the privilege of that situation you find yourself knowing fully well that the end is glorious already (Jer. 29:11). God’s plan is for us to succeed and be at the top. He hears and answers our prayers(Luke 18).
PRAYER: My Father, help me to stick to Your plans for my life and not rush out of it in Jesus name.