Nougat 25

How do we keep going when Jesus is delayed? A weird question huh. Yet whether intentional or not, that is the menu for today’s Holy Nougat Chew slowly

“When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem,” ‭‭John‬ ‭11:17-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How?

Our last count of extra days was two; yet Lazarus is dead for four days!! Sounds like an even greater delay – and to what end? From the perspective of Mary and Martha, it probably didn’t matter anymore – at least four days would have passed since they sent word to the Living Word – and Jesus was finally appearing. It surely couldn’t have felt good.

Considering that the disciples hadn’t fully grasped Jesus’ plan; despite being told that this was about God’s glory, Jesus was alone in His mission. As He always is. You see, in some ways, we can never grasp Jesus nor His mission. Especially when we look with human eyes. More so when it is us who face the dark night of the soul. In such moments we truly are obliged to reconsider what the basis of our faith is and where it lies. For, to wait on God’s timing can be its own burden and a test of our faith.

Let me digress a bit and remind us of a kingdom that was lost as a result of impatience. In 1 Samuel 13, we meet Saul calling for all Israel’s fighting men to meet him at Gilgal. As per custom, they would have been consecrated before going to battle. What is revealed later, is that Samuel told Saul to meet him there and when Samuel, the anointed Man of God and Seer was late, Saul went ahead with his plans! The problem with that plan was although anointed, Saul operated outside of his calling.

It is easy, too easy perhaps, for us to miss God’s mark. Adam and Eve missed it when they were convinced God was holding out on them and they ate that which was forbidden. Abraham and Sarah missed it when they substituted Hagar for God’s direct promise. Moses missed it by killing the Egyptian slave driver. Solomon, learning from his ancestors’ errors, said

“You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19:21‬ ‭NLT‬‬, which in good Jamaican parlance states, ’Man a plan, but God a wipe out.’

My siblings in Faith, when life crumbles and Lazarus is four days dead, or even about to die; waiting on God’s timing is difficult. Regardless of what or who our Lazarus is. Lazarus might be a real person, like my nephew who died; or a thing, like a much-needed job; or the symbol of support in a harsh and critical world; but whatever Lazarus is to us, it’s best to seek God’s face.

We might not feel God’s presence with us in the tangible way we expected, but I guarantee us that does not mean that God’s not with us. God’s grace is truly sufficient and that is a faith lesson we’ve got to learn over and over again until it’s first nature to us. We close our reflection with a song that helps to keep me going in the rough moments

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May all we seek be found in Christ