Summer of Depth Devotional Day 21

Welcome to Day 21 of our Summer of Depth Devotional and Reading Plan.

Waiting is one of the hardest parts of following Jesus.

We pray for healing, answers, direction, or relief, and sometimes it feels like God is taking longer than we think He should. If you've ever found yourself wondering, "Jesus, where are You?" you're not alone.

As we go deep into His word this evening, pray this simple prayer: Lord, even in the waiting…I trust you.

Before anything else, slow down and read: John 11:32–36, the passage from yesterday’s sermon.

When Martha and Mary sent word that Lazarus was sick, they expected Jesus to come quickly. He didn't.

By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Martha had already asked the hard question. Now Mary falls at Jesus' feet and says the very same thing:

"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

Jesus doesn't interrupt her. He doesn't explain Himself. He doesn't immediately raise Lazarus. Instead, He weeps.

At first glance, this not only feels frustrating…it almost feels rude. But, there’s something more to this moment that is so powerful. Jesus knows exactly what He's about to do. He knows resurrection is only moments away. BUT, He refuses to rush past their grief.

Sometimes we assume that if God has a solution, He'll skip over our sorrow. But Jesus shows us something different. He enters it first.

Maybe that's where some of us are today. Still waiting. Still praying. Still carrying something that hasn't changed yet.

If that's you this evening, don't mistake God's silence for His absence or His delay for indifference. Jesus is never in a hurry to leave us alone in our pain. So often, before He works the miracle, He sits with the mourners. Before He speaks life into the tomb, He lets His own tears fall.

What if healing isn't only about the moment everything changes? What if part of God's healing begins as we discover that He is willing to be with us, even here? And what if along the way, he’s slowly transforming us, slowing doing something inside of us…healing us in a deeper way than we could have thought possible?

Practice:

Bring one area of your life where you're still waiting before Jesus today.

Don't begin by asking Him to fix it.

Simply sit with Him for a few quiet moments and remind yourself that the Savior who wept at Lazarus' tomb is the same Savior who is with you now.

Then pray:

"Jesus, even while I wait, help me trust that You are near."