"Jesus wept."
"Jesus wept."Just two simple words, and yet they carry a world of meaning. John 11:35 is the shortest verse in all of the Bible, but one of its most powerful, and insightful. “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4). Because his love is great, he made our pains his own. Jesus wept, not because he lacked faith, but because he was full of love. In love, he weeps with those who weep. “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled” And this even when he knew that Lazarus would rise. He had said to his men, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (John 11:4). And again, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him” (John 11:11). And yet, Jesus wept.
When Jesus wept, over Lazarus, I now know the pain in his heart, the pain of emptiness, the pain of no one understanding the hurt of losing the very soul of you. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. With every tear we cry, it is knowing each tear is a note of love rising to the heavens... By Jesus weeping, he let's us know. You don't get over it, you just get through it. Your don't get by it, because you can't get around it. It doesn't 'get better'; it just gets different. Everyday...
When Jesus wept, over Lazarus, I now know the pain in his heart, the pain of emptiness, the pain of no one understanding the hurt of losing the very soul of you. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. With every tear we cry, it is knowing each tear is a note of love rising to the heavens... By Jesus weeping, he let's us know. You don't get over it, you just get through it. Your don't get by it, because you can't get around it. It doesn't 'get better'; it just gets different. Everyday...
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Feeling isolated is one of the hardest parts of suffering. It can feel like you're all alone in your pain, and that makes it so much worse. The comfort of those who have known that same pain is inexpressible. It feels like a warm blanket being draped around your soul. But in order for someone to say those powerful words,"I know just how you feel because I've been there", that person had to walk through the same difficult valley first.
I believe Martha embodies the attitude of most us today. We accept that God can perform miracles for us when there’s still a little inkling of hope left in our situation. But what happens to our faith when the Lord brings us face-to-face with absolutely impossible circumstances that demand his supernatural, miracle-working intervention?
Martha questioned her Lord’s ability to work a miracle for her brother. Similarly, the disciples doubted his power to deliver them from the threat of death in Judea. No one gave the Lord credit to perform the impossible. In every instance, they had no faith whatsoever that he could meet them in their situations.
When the Spirit of God gives you a time of inspiration and insight, you tend to say, “Now that I've experienced this moment, I will always be like this for God.” No, you will not, and God will make sure of that. Those times are entirely the gift of God. You cannot give them to yourself when you choose. If you say you will only be at your best for God, as during those exceptional times, you actually become an intolerable burden on Him. You will never do anything unless God keeps you consciously aware of His inspiration to you at all times. If you make a god out of your best moments, you will find that God will fade out of your life, never to return until you are obedient in the work He has placed closest to you, and until you have learned not to be obsessed with those exceptional moments He has given you.
Timing is everything, and God is a pro at timing. He knows grief isn't a puzzle to be quickly solved or a hurdle to jump immediately. Instead He stands next to us until our torrent of tears lessens, knowing we'll hear His words better after that. He says, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you” (Isaiah 66:13), and just like a mom who instinctively knows what her children need, when the time is right, God soothes our tattered spirits.
So the same messages that once felt like vinegar in a wound becomes a rich source of sustenance and comfort, building within us the will to move forward.
How abundant are the good things that you [Lord] have stored up for those who take refuge in you. —Psalm 31:19 Lord, teach me how to accept the comfort offered by others and through it, to move forward. He has “borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah. 53:4).Amen!