God doesn’t always rescue. Sometimes He delays His coming.

 

This is a hard truth.

 

But like all hard truths, it is better fleshed-out and faced than avoided. Don’t you agree? Yes, the Lord rescues. Yes, He is omnipotent and perfectly capable of it. But no, He does not always do so.

 

Hard, right?

 

But not heretical.

 

Do you remember the story of Martha and Mary? How grieved they were as their brother Lazarus lie dying and the Lord Jesus delayed His coming? On purpose? How devastated they were when the miracle they knew Jesus was capable of didn’t come? And up walked Jesus, days later and seemingly dollars short of the redemption they’d hoped for?  John 11:1-44

 

“Lord, if you had been here . . .” was their hurting hearts’ honest cry.

 

Can you relate?

 

I know I can.

 

When I was raped in the woods as a small child, I didn’t experience God’s rescue. As a parade of abusers and molesters moved through my young life, I didn’t feel or see God’s protection. And it wasn’t for want of asking.

 

“Where were you, Lord?” I asked, years down the road, when I was finally able to put words to the trauma. “Among the leaves? Amid the trees? Along the path? At the dumpster out back? You were with me? Really? You silent thing.”

 

For awhile there, I was confused. Even mad.  Psalm 18 meant little to me other than to show me what He did not do. He did not swoop. He did not save. Could have. But didn’t.

 

And Lazarus died.

 

So, yes. In my own way, my own story, I can relate to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. I’m sure you can too.

 

“Lord, if you had been here . . .”

 

We all understand their disappointment and their honest question behind it, don’t we? Our God is wise. Omniscient even. He surely does too.

 

So let’s go ahead and ask Him ourselves.  “Why the delay, Lord? Why did you not show up? Why did you not rescue us from ______?”

 

Name your nightmare.

 

And now let’s consider the rest of their story.

 

Maybe His delay in relieving our devastation has a purpose. Like the story of Mary, Martha, and stinking Lazarus, maybe His power waits for a grander display. We may be fine with a quieter one. But this is His story. Not ours. And it may take awhile.

 

Can we be okay with that?

 

I love that in this particular story Jesus weeps. He looks at the broken hearts around Him and He is moved. Our God is not a god who cannot empathize with us. He knows full well the depth of our devastation. And He weeps with us. He weeps with us in empathy, though, not despondency. Let’s keep that clear. He has no reason to despair. He knows how this story ends. He’s got this.

 

Because one word from Him and the dead rise and His glory shines.

 

“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” Luke 10:25

 

One word from Him and the purpose for our pain is revealed. Even sickness. Even death. Even those experiences, like rape or the loss of a child or spouse, that all but murder us, but because we’re somehow still breathing, we get back up again afterwards. God can make all these things work to the good for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

 

A grander display. A greater glory.

 

You just may have to wait for it.  But it will be worth it.

 

 

Photo Credit: “Dark Storm” by Mindfulness

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Original version posted at Adorned Women of Value – “When Rescue Doesn’t Come”