Unexpected Joy

Unexpected Joy

Seeing Lazarus Rise

Read: John 11:41-44

The distraught wife leaned against her father’s strong shoulder. How much time had passed since the company spokesperson quietly shared the news with the group of relatives and friends? Rescue workers had confirmed that all the trapped miners were dead. Suddenly, the woman heard a commotion. Pushing through the crowd, she saw a man being helped out of the entrance. She caught her breath—could it be . . . ? The man looked into her face, and her knees buckled.

Martha and Mary received a similar shock four days after their brother died. When Jesus had the stone rolled away from the tomb, they had no clue as to what was in his mind. Perhaps he wanted to go into the cave and take one last look at his friend’s body. They didn’t expect Jesus to shout for Lazarus to come out of the grave. And they certainly didn’t expect to see their brother walk out of the tomb, his head and body wrapped in burial cloths! The sisters, who had been mourning for four days, must have erupted into uncontrollable joy at the sight of their brother restored to life.

Since loss is a normal part of life, we all go through periods of mourning. During those times, we may feel that we will never laugh again, but when we grieve in a healthy way, we eventually move through the process and embrace happiness again. If we’re in a close relationship with God, unexpected joy sometimes surprises us even in the midst of sorrow. Remembering that God can bring good out of any heartbreak helps us find comfort in his loving arms during the most painful times of our lives. It also helps to remember that a time is coming when everything that hurts us now will be replaced by everlasting joy.

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.

Psalm 30:11