WHEN LOVE DELAYS

“So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.” ~ John 11:6

REFERENCE:

JOHN 11:1-11

Solomon said that love is a strong force, “Many waters cannot quench love.” People have done heroic things and made great sacrifices for love’s sake. For this reason, when you find yourself in dire straits, the person you expect most to come to your aid is the person who loves you. It is odd, then, when someone who claims to love you sees you in need but delays in giving you aid.

They told Jesus that Lazarus, whom He loved, was sick, but He delayed going to him. One would expect He would make haste to reach and heal him of his sickness. It was a one-time opportunity to show his Love by hurrying to his aid, for they sent Him an urgent message. This is not how we understand Love: It is not that ‘He loved them but was delayed;’ no, ‘He loved them and He delayed for two days,’ although His friend was sick. What manner of Love is this?

Why would God’s love delay? Why would I be in a difficult place and God delays in helping?

a.     Jesus loved and esteemed Martha and Mary for their commitment and Love for Him. He knew their faith in Him. His delay was to highlight the quality of their devotion to Him. No wonder Martha said, “Although You came late, you can turn this around even now.”

b.     Jesus’ love for them would manifest in the greater miracle He would perform for them. He delayed so that what we would be reading about today would not be the healing of a migraine headache but that a man was raised back to life after being dead for four days. If all Jesus did for Lazarus was to heal him of a fever, He would have treated him just as He did others; we would not see how special to Him He was. The delay is the only reason we see that.

When love delays, it is not because God lacks the ability or commitment but because He wants the beauty of your trust and faith in Him to be evident. He wants you independent of things but resting on God’s goodness. It is also because God plans to do something bigger and better than you expect. So, when love delays, God is planning something big.

You are never out of God’s thoughts or sight. He sees, hears, and knows. Don’t lose faith, deny God, renege on your commitment, or stop serving when God delays. God makes all things beautiful in their time. Love won’t always wait. That situation may look decayed, but when Love comes, He is strong enough to reverse time and command a restoration of that which is dead.

PHOTO QUOTE

ADDITIONAL TEXTS:

Ecclesiastes 3:11, Isaiah 54:7-8, II Peter 3:9, and Psalm 30:5

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PRAYERS:

Lord, no matter what happens around me or to me, help me not to question Your Love. With You, out of sight is not out of mind. Even when I don’t see you, I know you are working. No matter how it looks now, I know You will come and save me. My weeping has endured for a night; I declare that Joy comes now. Thank You for loving me; I love You, Lord.