I hear You whisper to my tired spirit, “Abundant Life I have for you, child”. I hear my  response, “Yes, Lord, I know heaven will be amazing”.  Immediately, I hear the echo of dear, sweet Martha, “If You had been here, Lord…Yes, I know he will live again in the Resurrection…”. Lord, I hear You. You desire and command life abundant here and now; because of, in, through and by You. And not the evil of the days; not the blazing hot circumstances that wither my spirit; not the smallness of my heart and faith…can stop You! You wept. For her ignorance? For her unawareness?…of the Power that was theirs to have, the Hope, the Joy, the Peace that they did not perceive. The reality of their circumstances blinded them to Your Eternal View, to the remembrance of You, Your Power, Your Heart, Your Love and Your desire for goodness for them.

I long, Jesus, to be immovable in my devotion, confidence, hope and awareness of You and Your TRUTH that speaks the true reality into and over all circumstances; over the evil of the days. I desire to walk boldly, steadily, courageously in and only in Your Power and Presence. I want to turn immediately to You for definition of what is happening around me and not evaluate by my own understanding and despair.

Jesus, You truly are my Hope. Your Kindness and Patience beckon me constantly to Your Arms and I am astounded You do not weary of my ignorance and insolence; but You weep for and with me and then set about with and in Your Transforming Power!!!

This morning I am reminded of another stop that looked like the final outcome was death. Your dear friends, Mary and Martha, sent word for You to come quickly because their beloved brother was seriously ill. You did not go right away…a very pain filled stop.

When You did arrive, their brother had already died. “If You had been here, Lord, this tragedy would not have happened!” they cried.  I can imagine their tortured thoughts; “We thought You loved us, loved him”, “Why in our greatest time of need, You didn’t show up?”, “You could have prevented this devastation for us”, “Are You really Who we thought You were–loving, good, caring, powerful…?”.

You wept.

You knew in moments You would call Lazarus back to LIFE! But You wept. Why? Was it for their deep sorrow? for their lack of understanding? for their confusion and doubt? Were You looking into all the times, Your people for all generations, would not understand Your Ways, the Goodness and Purpose of Your Heart and be broken with doubt, anguish and torment? Were You overcome by the reality that in Your Perfect, Sacrificial Love, Your children would still miss Your Heart in the times to come?

Someday we will know for sure the reason. Until then, Jesus, please empower us to truly grip and rest in the Truth and Authenticity of Your Perfect and Pure Love!