Sometimes things will get worst before...

"Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days." - John 11:6

One of the hardest thing Christians can understand is when God decides to wait.

If Jesus was to leave immediately when he heard of Lazarus sick, he would not have died. The question is why didn't He?

There are times when the heat has to be turned on in order to accomplish His purpose. The fire of His delay has to burn away the dross of self-dependence. During the wait, the flesh revolts, and raises a coup d'etat to overthrow the rulership of the Holy Spirit. Missiles of doubts bombards the mind to change the heart.

Nevertheless, our strategy is to man the fort of faith. The prophet Habakkuk once sang

Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls-
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer's feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills. - Habakkuk 3:17-19

Yet will I praise thee.

When Jesus did come, Lazarus died. The irony disturbed the minds of the followers. A crisis of faith took place. I can imagine a storm brewing in the minds of the believers who once believed that with God all things are possible; still true but not all the time. That is the lie of the enemy. Satan doesn't want to ruin your belief, he just wants to poison your belief, that God's word is not true ALL the time, just sometimes. He whispers, "Sometimes God doesn't heal, sometimes God doesn't help and sometimes God doesn't care."

But God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Just as Lazarus died before a greater glory can be manifested, something in us has to die, before God can manifest Himself fully in our lives. It could be a stubborn addiction, a little doubt or unseen pride. Whatever it is, they are like dust that block the light of God from penetrating through our lives. God desires to mature our character more than serving our convenience.

"When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!' The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face." - John 11:43-44

Eventually God raised him up. No death can stop the power of God, because every kingdom, every principality, every tongue and every knee shall bow before the Most High.

God is faithful. The name Lazarus means God is my help - and when the time came, God did help.