There are times when it’s frustrating to be forced to live through a process when you know God is able to change it. You did everything possible to prevent the current madness, including asking Him to change it. Yet, despite our best efforts to shift circumstances, we still find ourselves forced to live through a process in which we did not volunteer to participate. The trials uproot our places of comfort and leave us crying, “Surely, Lord, if You loved me the way You say You do, this wouldn’t be happening.”
The disciples said it this way, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” Of course, He did, but they couldn’t see it in their moments of distress.
Mary said, “Jesus, if you’d had been here my brother wouldn’t have died.” She knew He could have healed Lazarus. And she was correct.
Yes, the Lord can cause you to experience Him in infinite ways – but often, slices of revelation knowledge about our Lord come wrapped in unsightly packaging called trouble/storms/hardships/trials/tests (you get the picture).
After Jesus raised Lazarus that day, Mary saw Him in a new light. Soon after, Jesus, Lazarus, Mary, and several other disciples were at Simon the Leper’s house for dinner. Mary created a personal worship environment when she broke her alabaster jar and wiped the expensive oil on Jesus’ feet with her hair.
It wasn’t until Jesus rebuked the winds and waves, commanding them to cease, that the disciples said, “What manner of man is this that even the wind and the sea obey him?” They would have never known that aspect of Jesus if they hadn’t gone through the process God chose to use, i.e., the storm. Talk about an up close and personal experience!
No one wants to go through trouble, especially the kind that causes great distress, but when God calls for it to hit your house, know He has something so much bigger in mind than making you sweat, moan, and groan. Your comfort zone won’t give you the revelation the Lord has set for you. So, He’s positioned you in your trials to “see” Him in ways you had no clue existed. You will know Him better by the time this process is over, and your worship level will rise!
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? Mark 4:35-41 (KJV)
Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. John 12:1-3 (KJV)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4 (KJV)
1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: Romans 5:1-4 (KJV)
In the Master’s Service,
Author/Pastor Michele D Robertson
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)