Learning to Trust His Timing
A Day in the Life of Jesus
Bethany was a small village, but for Jesus it was a place of comfort and love. Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus offered Him friendship and hospitality. They weren’t just followers—they were family to Him. Yet when Lazarus fell gravely ill and the sisters sent word, Jesus did something unexpected: He stayed where He was for two more days. His delay wasn’t neglect. It wasn’t indifference. It was intentional. It was for the glory of God and the strengthening of faith.
As I walk with this story, I realize how often I have felt the sting of delay. Perhaps you have too. We pray for healing, for provision, for reconciliation, and the answer does not come in the way or in the time we expect. Like Mary and Martha, we wonder: Doesn’t He care? Doesn’t He see our need? Yet Jesus reminds us through this moment that His timing is never off. He is never late, though His watch runs differently than ours.
Jesus explained to His disciples, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (John 11:4). He saw beyond the sickness to the resurrection. He saw beyond the grief to the glory. And in that vision, He teaches us that even the hardest moments of waiting can serve a higher purpose. As Paul reminds us, “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). That includes not only the needs we recognize but also the deeper needs of faith, trust, and growth that only waiting can provide.
God’s Delays Are Not Denials
I think of Joseph, betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. Years later, after imprisonment and hardship, he could look back and say, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20). In the same way, Lazarus’s death became a stage on which the power of God over death itself was revealed. Had Jesus rushed to the bedside, Lazarus might have been healed—but the disciples would have missed the greater sign: that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.
This challenges me deeply. When trials come, my first instinct is often to grumble or question. But what if the very situation I dread is the soil where God intends to display His glory? Romans 8:28 promises, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” That doesn’t mean every event is good in itself, but that God is able to weave even tragedy into a tapestry of grace.
Commentator Matthew Henry once wrote, “Christ’s delays are not denials; they are to exercise our faith and patience, and to make His later appearances more welcome.” When I hold onto this, I see my own disappointments differently. A delayed answer isn’t proof of God’s absence—it’s an opportunity to lean into His presence and to anticipate His glory.
Walking in the Light
When Jesus finally announced, “Let us go back to Judea,” His disciples were alarmed. Only days earlier, hostility had reached a boiling point there. “Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” (John 11:8). Jesus responded with an image: walking in the daylight versus stumbling in the dark. As long as they walked with Him—the Light of the World—they were safe, even if the road was dangerous.
There’s a lesson here too. Following Jesus does not mean avoiding risk. In fact, discipleship often brings us closer to danger, whether that’s social rejection, spiritual opposition, or the call to costly obedience. Thomas, often remembered for his doubt, shines in this moment: “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). His words reveal both fear and loyalty. He didn’t understand everything, but he was willing to walk with Jesus into uncertainty.
How often do I shrink back when the path looks threatening? Yet the call of Christ is not to safety but to faith. Jesus Himself declared in John 10:18 that He had authority to lay down His life and to take it up again. The raising of Lazarus was not just a miracle for one family—it was a sign pointing to the greater miracle of the cross and resurrection.
Faith That Grows in Waiting
This story forces us to wrestle with our own view of God’s timing. Waiting is uncomfortable. It tests our patience, challenges our faith, and exposes our doubts. But it also strengthens us. Just as physical exercise builds endurance, spiritual waiting builds trust. The disciples were about to witness a resurrection, but first they had to endure confusion, fear, and delay.
When I look back over my life, the seasons of waiting were often the most formative. Prayers that seemed unanswered at the time later unfolded into blessings I could not have anticipated. What seemed like silence was actually preparation. In the quiet, God was shaping my heart, redirecting my path, and setting the stage for His glory.
In your own waiting, remember: God’s love for you is unwavering. Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus deeply, yet He delayed. His delay was not a contradiction of His love but an expression of a greater love that wanted them—and us—to see His power over death itself.
A Blessing for Today
Dear friend, as you walk through your own Bethany moments, may you be encouraged to trust God’s timing. The same Jesus who wept at Lazarus’s tomb and then called him forth is with you in your sorrow, in your questions, and in your waiting. He is never careless with your pain. His delays are filled with purpose, and His power is not bound by our clocks.
May your faith be strengthened as you wait, may your hope be renewed as you trust, and may your heart be open to see His glory in ways you did not expect. Walk today in the light of His presence, and remember: even when God seems slow, He is always right on time.
For further reflection, see this article from Crosswalk on Trusting God’s Timing .
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