Is God’s timetable too slow for you sometimes? In John 11, we read about Lazarus’ death. Mary and Martha sent word to their dear beloved friend, Jesus, to let him know their brother Lazarus had become very ill.  They expected Jesus to come heal their brother, but he did not come and they wondered why. 

Jesus had different plans and He told the disciples, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” He loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus very much but stayed in Galilee teaching and healing the sick.

Two days later Jesus told his disciples that it was time to go to Judea to see Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. When they arrived, they learned that Lazarus had been dead four days.  Martha told Jesus that if he had come sooner her brother would not have died. Nevertheless, Jesus went to the grave deeply moved and asked to have the stone removed form the tomb. 

Martha said, “But Lord, he’s been dead for four days and he stinks.”

Jesus told her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you  believed, you would see the glory of God?”  Then Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus come out!” and Lazarus came out of the tomb.

We can learn several lessons from this story. When we pray asking God for something, often we get discouraged as Mary and Martha did because he does not answer immediately or on our timetable. However, think of all the people Jesus had the opportunity to heal and teach during those two days. Jesus was God’s Son and knew the Father’s plan and timetable. It was not God’s plan to   heal Lazarus. He wanted to glorify his Son by raising Lazarus from the dead.

Isn’t it great that when we think God is four days late by our timetable, He is still on time? Our finite minds simply cannot grasp God’s infinite ways of answering our prayers. We have no idea how many times we have prayed and He is waiting for the proper time to answer. Sometimes God needs to work in our hearts, our character, or another person before He will answer our prayers. We need to be reminded that God’s ways and timing are perfect. He knows best!  Even when we think God is too late, He is still on time.

I just talked with a friend on the telephone who has been praying for a prodigal grandchild, caught in the ways of the world, to come back to the Lord.  Many grandparents have been praying for their prodigal to return.  It is hard to wait, but we have to continue to pray for them and show them while we wait for God’s timing for the prodigal to return.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for the privilege to bring my concerns to you knowing you hear your children when they pray. Give me patience as I wait for you to work out your plan and your timing to answer my prayers. Help me to trust you and your Word as I wait for your answer to my prayers.   In Jesus Name, Amen.

Lillian Penner  2009