Something New, Something Good

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

John 11:43–44

Pause

Lazarus was dead. His sisters had begged Jesus to come to his aid before it was too late, but he’d ignored their pleas. Or so they thought. Oh, the questions they must have asked: “Where is Jesus? Why hasn’t he come? Doesn’t he care?” They buried their hope with their brother. To them, death marked the end. To Jesus, it marked the start of something good. Many people came to faith as a result of circumstances that appeared disastrous.

God’s perspective is vastly different from ours. We develop our own ideas of what our circumstances should look like and assume he’ll agree because, after all, he loves us. He wants what’s best for us, right?

Sometimes our circumstances fall into place. Sometimes they fall apart. Or so we think. In truth, God is at work in ways we cannot see. We think we’ve reached the end, but in truth, he’s starting something new.

Ponder

How might your perspective about your circumstances differ from God’s?

Pray

Father, help me view my circumstances through your eyes. Use my pain to accomplish eternal purposes.