Morning Revelation.
Lately, I've been preparing for a lot of changes in my life. From getting ready to move to making sure that everything is taken care of for going back to school, I've been putting God on this timetable of when things have to be done. When they're not done in time, I struggle with trying to not rush the process along. Sometimes, I'm so bad about having one foot in faith and the other in self-reliance. But the truth is this: Apart from God, I can do nothing, and God is VERY good at being God.
This morning, I was reminded of a story in John 11, that my church speaks on a lot. It's the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead. In John 11, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was sick, and Jesus' reply was, "The sickness is not fatal. It will become an occasion to show God's glory by glorifying God's Son," (John 11: 4, MSG). Despite the sentence that said that his sickness was not fatal, Lazarus died. (I felt like I needed to go and google the definition of "fatal" again because I KNOW Jesus just said Lazarus wouldn't die!) Mourners had shown up and were visiting Mary and Martha, and Lazarus was in the tomb for FOUR days before Jesus finally showed up. Just think about that: They had a FUNERAL for someone Jesus said wouldn't die before Jesus ever even showed up!
After Jesus finally got there, there's this beautiful depiction of the heart of Martha as she speaks to Jesus, and she says, "Even now, I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give to you," (John 11: 22, ESV). There is then an exchange of Jesus telling Martha that her brother will live, and she believed He was talking about after the resurrection, at the end of time, and Jesus explained that He is the Resurrection and the Life. Fast forward to them standing outside of the tomb, Martha's a little apprehensive since her brother had been buried for four days, and Jesus, looking her in the eyes, says, "Didn't I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11: 40, MSG). He speaks to Lazarus, and Lazarus is raised from the dead.
Isn't that SO GOOD?!!
Even if your situation looks grim.
Even if it's dead.
Even if it's BEEN dead!
Even if the mourners have shown up, and you have had the funeral for whatever the Lord has promised you, Jesus is standing at the tomb reminding us, "Didn't I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" In Him is everything we need in its perfected form. His timing is perfected. He's never been late to the party. He never will be. Trust Him. Right now, He's standing at the tomb.