“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied.”
“Jesus wept.” (John 11:33-35)
Both of Lazarus’ sisters have run out to meet Jesus and have said those devastating words to him: “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” We talked yesterday about how that is a perfectly appropriate response to loss in our own lives: Run straight to God with our tears and our most difficult questions – and a stubborn commitment to trust his character.
How does God respond to our grief, to our loss, to our tears? Jesus shows us. He wept. He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
Now, think about this for a minute: Did Jesus know he was about to raise Lazarus from the dead? Did he know that “all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose”? Did he know it was going to be okay in the end?
Of course he knew! God feels deep compassion for his children all the time. He loves us like a good Daddy. He doesn’t sit in heaven and say, “They’ll be fine in a few minutes.” He feels for us even while he is working for our good, even when we don’t get, yet, why he didn’t do what we’d hoped.
Think: Do you really believe God feels compassion for you when you are sad? Do you think of him like a good dad who cares deeply about you as his child, even when you’re questioning his actions?
Pray: Ask God to help you to be more and more convinced of his compassion and love for you.
Do: Read about God’s deep and irrevocable love for his children in Romans 8:28-39.