Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, (John 11:5,6).
Early in my spiritual journey I was taught that God always answers our prayers. But sometimes the answer is "No", and sometimes the answer is "Wait". I've come to think of the "Wait" answer as the divine delay. I find that I don't always handle that answer very well.
God's ways are not always our ways. I think it would be fair to say his ways are usually not our ways! Today's text comes from one of the most important miracles Jesus performed. He raised Lazarus from the dead and by so doing validated his claim that he was, and is, the "resurrection and the life." But before the miracle there was a divine delay. How could Mary and Martha possibly have known what God had up his sleeve? They wanted Jesus now. They wanted God to heal their brother so that he would not die. But God's plan was not their plan. He had something bigger and better in mind. But they didn't know that! To them, it seemed like Jesus didn't care. Yet, the text prefaces the delay with the words, "Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus."
Most of us are probably experiencing some kind of divine delay in our lives. There are things we are praying about and hoping God will come through on. It is disappointing when it feels like he has turned a deaf ear to us. But like Mary and Martha, we don't know what God is up to. That's why it is called "faith". I need lots of help in this area. How about you? Put a "DD" on your hand today as a reminder that you are in the middle of a "divine delay."
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