Yesterday morning, I was reflecting on John chapter 11, specifically verses 17-37. The story of Lazarus' death and when Jesus goes to raise him from the dead. But I wasn't thinking about Lazarus. Or even Jesus.
I was thinking about the sisters.
Their grief and the way they dealt with it. Their friendship with Jesus and how their brother's death affected it.
When their brother was ill, they called upon Jesus because of their faith in Him.
"So the sisters sent word to him, saying, 'Master, the one you love is ill.'"
He stayed two days longer in His current town before traveling to their rescue. Because He knew--He had another plan, one that would bring greater glory to God and greater faith and trust in Him.
In the meantime, Lazarus died. And sometimes the unexpected happens in our own lives, when we've cried out to God time and time again to save us from an outcome, heartache, pain. But it happens anyway. I don't know about you, but I've wrestled with this at times. The question "Why?" Eight months ago, I sat alone in the back of the church during Sunday Mass, overwhelmed by my grief but soaking in the Scripture readings. John 11 was being read and this tiny hidden verse hit me as it had never done before. Because I related to Mary:
"When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home."
Even though I still believe in Him, still trust Him with my mind...I just don't have the strength or the words to pray. I sit there but my heart struggles. Is that okay? If I had greater faith, would I be Martha, going out to meet Jesus, boldly and actively continuing on knowing He will make all things right? Instead, sometimes I can't find the strength to go to Him. I sit at home.
But this is the God we serve, dear friends. The One who doesn't hold our weakness against us, but instead pursues us in our grieving. He seeks us out to heal us, even when we don't have the strength to go out and meet Him. He will come to you. He will call your name.
"When [Martha] had said this, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, 'The teacher is here and is asking for you.'"
So let Him find you as you are. Fall at His feet and tell Him all your fears and doubts. He knows already anyway.
"When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.'"
Your tears matter to God.
"When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, He became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said 'Where have you laid him?' They said to Him, 'Sir, come and see.'
"And Jesus wept."
Even though He knew He was about to perform a miracle, Jesus cried. Our God...wept.
He didn't hold it against Mary that in her grieving she didn't go out to meet Him. He came to her. He cried with her. And then He brought good from bad, beauty from ashes, victory over death.
I texted a girlfriend these verses yesterday because of a heavy cross she is carrying right now. She replied with "God is so good" because she had been meditating on a verse from this very chapter for the past few days!
It stirred me to share my thoughts with you. Because maybe God wants you to know this. That He's not holding it against you if you're struggling in prayer or growth because of pain or suffering in your life. He's meeting you where you are. He's coming to you, sweet friend. Take whatever steps you can to meet Him but He will close the gap. Fall at His feet. He has a beautiful plan for you but for now, He is simply holding you in His arms.
I'm praying for you.
Love,
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Hi- I would like to request prayers for the victims of rape and abuse by members of the Catholic Church. Many of them were children when they were attacked or abused. This is also an ongoing crisis, with new victims each year, worldwide. I will remember them and their stories forever, but for the healing to truly take place, it will take the voices and efforts of many. To paraphrase a poem by an Indian schoolgirl, "Too many Catholics, in too many countries, speak the same language-- of silence." Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous! Thanks for your comment! Please don't ever feel like you can't leave a name with a difficult comment-- I certainly wouldn't judge you for your thoughts! You are always welcome to share here. :)
DeleteI agree that any type of sexual/physical/mental abuse is horrifying and tragic. Having worked with victims myself at a crisis pregnancy center, it breaks my heart. However, we find this abuse across the board-- within the church and without, from leaders and those in authority as well as those without education or career. Abuse is not isolated within the Catholic Church. It's a symptom of a greater disease-- the rejection of morality and the sexual confusion within our country and world. The media will certainly always focus on abusers within the Catholic Church-- or any church for that matter (it happens with nonCatholic pastors too)-- because of the secular slant of the media, always up for slandering or drawing people away from Jesus. Don't believe everything you hear. The Catholic Church actually takes such occurrences very seriously and takes action.
Instead of being drawn into condemning a specific denomination or religion, let's pray for those so confused by their sexuality or so weak in the face of evil temptation, and realize that they come from all sorts of walks of life. Bottom line-- anyone abusing another human is sinning against God. But we cannot assume that the Catholic Church is sinful because it contains sinners.
Peace to you, friend!
Thank you Laura, this is beautiful.. God is good all the times, :)
ReplyDeleteYes, He is. It's just hard to see sometimes. :)
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