I didn't write this one, but I thought it was very apporpriate! Enjoy
:)

More Than Healing

In the message "Godly Compassion" we saw how Mary and Martha watched
their brother Lazarus become increasingly sick. They knew the healing
power of Jesus and had sent for His help, but by the time Jesus arrived
Lazarus had died. The sisters were filled with sorrow and cried out:
"Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (John
11:21,32). At this, Jesus was troubled and compassionately wept with
those who had gathered (John 11:35).

Jesus genuinely cared about the sorrow and pain of those who knew and
loved Lazarus; but remember, Jesus had intentionally allowed Lazarus to
die; "when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two
more days" (John 11:6). And Jesus didn't even need to be near Lazarus
if He really wanted to heal him.

When He had healed the royal official's son (who was in a bed twenty
miles away), He did so by simply speaking a word: "You may go. Your
son will live" (John 4:50).

Yes, Jesus allowed Lazarus to die. For in God's all-knowing plan, the
need to strengthen the faith of those around Lazarus was more important
than healing his illness. John 11:40 "Then Jesus said, 'Did I not
tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?'" God
had prepared a miracle which would cause many others to believe and
bring glory and honor to His name: "Father, I thank You that You have
heard Me...I said this for the benefit of the people standing here,
that they may believe that You sent Me" (John 11:41,42). Jesus then
proceeded to raise Lazarus from the dead! "Lazarus, come out!" (John
11:43).

We've all been in bad situations which have caused us to cry out and
wonder why God didn't just reach down and make things "right." Why
didn't He remove the enemy, restore our finances, or take away the
hurt? And how many times have we become burdened by the apparent
injustice in the world; "I envied the arrogant when I saw the
prosperity of the wicked...surely in vain have I kept my heart pure"
(Psalm 73:3,13).

God has the ability to "fix" every situation, but His plan is so much
more. His plan is for us to know Him and His glory; to trust Him and
grow while being strengthened and refined through every trial; to
continue to be "conformed to the likeness of His Son" (Romans 8:29).
We must trust God to refine and strengthen our faith - even if by
fire! No matter what trials we face, we must trust that "in all things
God works for the good of those who love Him" (Romans 8:28). And we
must continue to trust He is at work in our lives (even right now) to
accomplish much more than healing.

Steve Troxel - God's Daily Word Ministries


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"The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing."
Psalm 34:10

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