Embracing Life's Trials with Unwavering Belief
Life's journey often leads us down unexpected paths, presenting challenges that test our resolve and faith. When adversity strikes, when the path ahead appears daunting and uncertain, how do we respond with grace and courage? It is in these moments of turmoil that our true strength and conviction are revealed.
In the gospel of John, we are told of a poignant story that resonates deeply with the human experience. Lazarus fell gravely ill and passed away, leaving his loved ones in anguish and despair. Lazarus was one of Jesus’ friends, he had spent time with him, he had dined and conversed with him, Jesus knew him well. Lazarus must have been an upright and Godly man because we are told that, “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus”, John 11:5.
Despite the sorrow and grief that enveloped them, Jesus was resolute, offering hope and life. As Jesus approached the tomb of Lazarus, a profound lesson in faith unfolded before our eyes. In the face of uncertainty and loss, Jesus demonstrated three powerful responses that show us how to respond with faith.
1. Jesus allowed himself to be moved by the pain and suffering around him.
He did not shy away from his emotions but embraced them fully. His tears were not a sign of weakness but a testament to the depth of his compassion and humanity. In our own struggles, we also need to acknowledge our emotions. Having faith doesn’t shield us from sorrow but enables us to navigate through it with grace.
Christopher Smith observes, "Knowing the end of the story doesn't mean you can't cry at the sad parts." Even with unwavering faith in the divine plan, Jesus wept for the loss of his friend, acknowledging the pain and sorrow that accompany earthly existence. His tears remind us that faith does not remove our humanity but enriches it, allowing us to experience the full spectrum of emotions with authenticity and grace.
Jesus' display of deep emotion is a powerful reminder that faith is not devoid of feeling. Even in our hardest days we find strength and resilience to keep going, because of our faith . In the midst of life's trials and tribulations, we draw inspiration from Jesus' example of unwavering faith and compassion. We can embrace our emotions, acknowledge our fears, and trust in the transformative power of belief. It’s through our trials that we emerge stronger, more compassionate, and more deeply connected to God.
Jesus’ response also shows us something we must understand - Os Guiness put it perfectly; “ Jesus is outraged and troubled because evil is not normal – the death of Lazarus was contrary to the good and beautiful world God had created . Jesus wept at the pain and sorrow caused by the enemy invasion that had devastated his beautiful creation. Christians are never admonished to accept death as a natural part of creation.”
Jesus is weeping and angry because death was not God’s original plan for people. Sin created death. God sent Jesus so that death would not have the final word – death is swallowed up in victory. Jesus came to give us everlasting life, He is the resurrection and the life. Faith filled believers know death was never God’s plan, but that God through Jesus has saved us from the grave.
Our faith in God should not waver in tough seasons. In grief, ill-health, disruptions and interruptions, setbacks and hard times. We do not blame God. God is not the author of suffering and death. Death and pain was never the “will of God”. Jesus, deeply moved by the situation, knew the promise. No matter what pain we go through, the tough things we experience, we can have faith in God that He is the resurrection and the life.
When we pray for miracles, when we cry out in desperation for His intervention, remember that God is always ready to show up in power. He is the God of miracles, the one who turns mourning into dancing, the one who brings hope to the hopeless.
2. Jesus showed us there is faith muscle we need to use.
We must push away the obstacles that stand in the way of our faith. We must roll away the stones of doubt, fear, and negativity that prevent us from experiencing the fullness of God's blessings. There was a stone in front of Lazarus grave, something that was in the way. Jesus told the people to move the stone. There are at times tangible things we do that are an act of faith which partners with God. It can be in serving, in giving, in speaking, in stepping out. Ultimately faith will led us to act. At other times our faith muscle is needed to ensure that we push away the wrong ways of thinking.
Martha was worried about the tomb being opened, she didn’t know what to expect. However, gripped by fear and uncertainty, she trusted in the words of Jesus. His promise shattered the doubt that bound her heart. Like Martha, we can be confronted with fears that threaten to stifle our faith. Even in those moments of trepidation we must cling to the unwavering promises of God, allowing them to dispel our anxieties. Martha had to push away fear. Sometimes we have fears that we need to push away.
The grave-clothes wrapped around Lazarus also needed to be removed. Just as Lazarus had to remove what was binding him to experience true freedom, we too need to cast off limitations that hinder us from experiencing full life - limitations in our beliefs and mindsets and focus on removing anything that inhibits our movement. Lazarus couldn’t ‘walk forward’ until those ‘old clothes’ were gone.
3. Jesus spoke life.
In the resounding echo of Jesus' command, "Lazarus, come out," we witness the transformative power of faith in action. With unwavering conviction, Jesus spoke life into a seemingly lifeless situation, defying all expectations and ushering in a miraculous resurrection. In our own lives, we are called to emulate this faith-filled proclamation, speaking words of life and hope into every circumstance we encounter.
For Lazarus, there had unknowingly, been a faith declaration every day of his life. The promise of God had been present with him every time people spoke his name. The name Lazarus means “God has helped”. Past tense! They were declaring God would help him before he even needed it. In our daily language we want to lay a foundation of life, hope and belief that strengthens us to endure anything we might face. We come through hard times when we are hardwired to speak the word of God. We want our default pattern of speaking to be filled with the knowledge of God’s faithfulness, goodness and promises.
Our faith, when tested in adversity, serves as a testament to our unyielding trust in God. As we navigate the trials and the changing seasons of life, let us be moved by compassion. Let us remove the obstacles that hinder God's work in our lives and speak life into every situation, no matter how insurmountable it may seem. In doing so, we embody the transformative power of faith and pave the way for miracles to unfold in our midst. We will become people who have an unwavering belief.