Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
Do you remember the story of Lazarus and his two sisters, Martha and Mary? We find it in the book of John, chapter 11. Lazarus was very ill, and because these two sisters believed the Lord loved them and their brother, they quickly sent a message to Jesus. They trusted that if anyone could heal their brother Jesus had the power to do it. Yet the Lord tarried. He waited more than two days before he returned to them.
When Jesus arrived, Martha ran to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
Waiting can be one of the most difficult tests of our faith. This is especially true in a time of desperation. How we wait is important. I am learning that waiting requires intentional trust and going to God, my only hope of salvation. When we wait with confident trust, we remember what Jesus has done in the past and give thanks for what he will do (see Philippians 4:6).
Jesus was deeply moved by the grief of his beloved friends, and he wept. He had allowed the pain in order to demonstrate his glory. Then he went to the tomb of his friend Lazarus and told the men to move the stone away. Martha protested, “Lord, it has been four days. The body stinks!”
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So the men moved the stone away from the tomb, and Jesus prayed aloud to the Father giving thanks for what he was about to do. Then he called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
Like Martha, when we give thanks through the waiting we enter in to the mystery. Through surrender we make room for the miracle.
Wait
Verse of the day: PSALM 62:5 (NLT)
Look up today’s verse. Have a pen and paper ready.
- Write down the Bible verse.
- Find the key word and circle it.
- Look up the definition of the word (notice how it is used in context).
- If you are reading from a different translation of the Bible, which word is used instead?
- Underline where you find a promise. Find the heart of this verse and mark it with a heart shape.
(Click here for How to Use a Word Study.)
Meditation
What does this verse reveal about God’s heart? How does this truth refresh your soul? Turn this into your prayer today.
Please leave a comment below to share something that touched you in today’s devotional.
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