“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “If You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
John 11: 21
“When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, If you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
John 11:32
Martha and Mary could not comprehend why Jesus did not come sooner. “…had you been here,” they exclaimed, and the truth behind their troubled words is one we can relate to. As if asking: God, why? Why do you allow bad things to happen to innocent children? Why do the good suffer while the evil and corrupt are blessed and rise to power? Why don’t you put a stop to rape, genocide, murder, inequality? Why don’t you help us, Lord? How can you allow suffering and sorrow into your creation that was supposed to be perfect?
I wrestle with these questions on a regular basis; not having answers has caused me to question my faith, doubt God is good, and experience the painful side effects of not believing God is who He claims to be.
“Jesus wept… Jesus, once more deeply moved, came back to the tomb… ‘Take away the stone,’ he said… ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’ Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘take off the grave clothes and let him go.'”
John 11:35;38;40;43-44
I don’t have answers for why there is suffering in the world, but I do have hope in the red letters of my sweet Savior’s voice. I have the hope of resurrection. We, like Lazarus and like Jesus, may have suffering now, but IF we believe, we will also have a resurrection to an eternal life with no death or suffering, a perfect place God intended for creation.
My hope for those who suffer (especially children) is this: that is not the end of their story. Their story may begin with suffering (much like Jesus’s story did), but the end result is a life of eternal peace.
God, give me faith to believe. Amen.
Katie's Corner 