There are times we question God if He really is listening to our prayers and if He can see the urgency of our needs. We tend to blame God and others for not being supportive enough.
Naiinip tayo sapagkat parang walang Diyos. Gusto natin pag humingi tayo ngayon, dapat now na din ang kasagutan. We tend to put God in our “box” or time frame when God has to respond.
The book in John chapter eleven had this story when Martha said “ Jesus, if you had been here, my brother Lazarus would not have died.
On this text, sinisisi ni Marta ang Panginoon, “sana hindi po kayo na-late e di sana buhay pa ang kapatid kong si Lazaro.”
Jesus could have responded to that blaming attitude. But rather Jesus asked her one thing: “Where did you lay him?”
“Saan nyo inilibing si Lazaro?” sabi ni Jesus.
Sumagot si Marta, “Panginoon, apat na araw na po nakalibing sa Lazaro. Naaagnas na po ang bangkay nya!”
Sa halip na sagutin ng Panginoon si Marta bakit siya na-late, Jesus went ahead and asked, saan nyo ibinurol si Lazaro.
Today, I want to encourage you. Do we blame God? Do we tend to expect Him to be like a super-hero to be there at that very moment na kelangan natin Siya? Most of us think that God is like a microwave that the moment we press the button, food will be heated up and is ready for consumption in 2 minutes.
Kaibigan, maghintay ka lang. Understand that God is God. He created the whole universe. You will remember what he said to Martha: “this sickness will not end in death…” Jesus knew that Lazarus was dead already but what amazed me is the way he addressed “death” as sickness. Jesus said: “it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
Alam ni Hesus na ang kamatayan ni Lazaro ay magbibigay na kaluwalhatian sa Diyos.
Do we have some “dead” in our lives today? Tell God what hurts you. What makes you sad? What keeps you awake at night? Do we believe that God can use that death in our lives so that it brings glory to Him? Minsan hinahayaan ng Lord ang mga bagay sa ating buhay and it may include sickness, suffering and pains so that we appreciate His goodness and mercy. Na sa gitna ng ating pagluha maaalala natin ang Diyos, tatawag tayo sa Kanya. Then He answered our prayers and we love Him more. Alam ng Diyos na ang mga nangyayari sa atin ay magdadala ng kapurihan sa kanya.
Kagaya ng sinabi Niya kay Marta: “Saan nyo inilibing si Lazaro?” Ganoon din naman itatanong sa atin ng Lord: “Saan ang masakit sa iyo? Sabihin mo sa akin ano ang problema mo?” Jesus sees our tears and listens to our agony. He understands.
Just like Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” Ganoon din naman, tatawagin ng Lord ang pangalan mo at sasabihin sa iyo, “lumabas ka, mabuhay ka! Na kung ating iisipin at tatanggapin na parang sinasabi sa atin: “tapos na ang kamatayan sa buhay mo. Tapos na ang mga daluyong at malalaking unos ng buhay mo! Come out.”
Don’t put Jesus within your time frame. Give Him the opportunity to work a miracle in your life so that it brings glory to Him and the Father. He knows the timing. Put your confidence in the Lord that He is on His way to meet you and address what bothers you. He can bring back into life whatever is dead in you. He can restore whatever has been stolen from you. He can turn your sorrows into an unending joy.