God's Care: Trusting His Timing and Power
Summary
Taking a journey through the story of Lazarus in John 11, we explore the profound question: Does God really care for us? This question resonates deeply, especially when life throws unexpected challenges our way, such as the sudden loss of a loved one. The narrative of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha offers us four biblical principles that affirm God's care, even when His actions seem delayed or incomprehensible.
Firstly, God's care is evident even when our prayers are not immediately answered. Just as Jesus delayed His visit to Lazarus, sometimes our prayers seem unanswered, not because God is indifferent, but because there is a greater purpose at play. This delay is not a sign of neglect but a testament to His divine wisdom and love, teaching us patience and trust in His timing.
Secondly, God demonstrates His care by providing life and salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus' declaration, "I am the resurrection and the life," assures us that belief in Him grants us eternal life. This promise dispels the fear of physical death, reminding us that our salvation is secure in Christ, and our eternal life is guaranteed.
Thirdly, God empathizes with our pain and suffering. Jesus wept with Mary and Martha, showing that He deeply feels our grief and sorrow. This empathy is not just a passive feeling but an active participation in our struggles, offering comfort and understanding in our darkest moments.
Fourthly, God's care is manifested in His power to raise the dead to life, which strengthens our trust in Him. The resurrection of Lazarus is a powerful demonstration of Jesus' authority over life and death, encouraging us to entrust every aspect of our lives to Him. If He can conquer death, He can surely handle our daily challenges.
In conclusion, God's care is profound and multifaceted. He is with us in our waiting, provides eternal life, empathizes with our pain, and demonstrates His power over death. These truths invite us to trust Him more deeply and to cast all our cares upon Him, knowing that He truly loves and cares for us.
Key Takeaways
- God's Timing and Purpose: God's care is not diminished by delayed answers to our prayers. His timing serves a greater purpose, often beyond our understanding, teaching us patience and trust in His divine wisdom. Reflect on past experiences where delayed answers led to unexpected blessings. [09:55]
- Eternal Life Through Christ: Jesus' promise of resurrection and life assures us of eternal salvation. This truth should dispel our fear of death, as our eternity is secured in Christ. Embrace the peace that comes from knowing your salvation is not based on feelings but on the finished work of Jesus. [16:57]
- Empathy in Our Suffering: God empathizes with our pain, as shown by Jesus weeping with Mary and Martha. His empathy is a source of comfort, reminding us that He understands our struggles and walks with us through them. In moments of grief, seek solace in God's compassionate presence. [29:39]
- Trust in God's Power: The resurrection of Lazarus demonstrates Jesus' power over death, encouraging us to trust Him with our lives. If He can conquer death, He can handle our daily challenges. Let this truth strengthen your faith and trust in God's sovereignty. [41:14]
- God's Comprehensive Care: God's care is evident in His actions and presence in our lives. He answers prayers, provides salvation, empathizes with our pain, and demonstrates His power, inviting us to cast all our cares upon Him. Trust in His love and care, knowing He journeys with us through life's challenges. [45:17]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - The Flight Experience
[02:01] - Encounter with Miss Universe
[03:29] - Questioning God's Care
[04:11] - The Story of Lazarus
[05:41] - Jesus' Love for Lazarus
[07:11] - Jesus' Delayed Response
[08:51] - Understanding God's Delays
[11:34] - Jesus' Power Over Death
[13:49] - Martha's Faith and Frustration
[15:38] - Assurance of Resurrection
[18:15] - Fear of Death and Assurance
[21:39] - Heavenly Rewards and Riches
[24:13] - Certainty in Death
[29:39] - Jesus' Empathy and Compassion
[35:36] - Jesus Raises Lazarus
[41:14] - Trusting God with Our Lives
[45:17] - Conclusion: God's Care
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 11:1-45
Observation Questions:
1. What was Jesus' initial response when He heard about Lazarus' illness, and how did it differ from what might have been expected? [07:11]
2. How did Martha express both faith and frustration when she met Jesus after Lazarus' death? [13:49]
3. What was the reaction of the people who witnessed Jesus weeping, and what does it reveal about His relationship with Lazarus? [30:37]
4. Describe the sequence of events that led to Lazarus being raised from the dead. What was the significance of Jesus calling Lazarus by name? [38:51]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' delay in visiting Lazarus challenge our understanding of God's timing and purpose in our lives? [08:51]
2. In what ways does Jesus' declaration, "I am the resurrection and the life," provide assurance of eternal life for believers? [15:38]
3. How does Jesus' empathy and compassion, as demonstrated by His weeping, influence our understanding of God's care for us? [29:39]
4. What does the resurrection of Lazarus reveal about Jesus' authority over life and death, and how should this impact our trust in Him? [41:14]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt your prayers were not being answered. How can you find peace in trusting God's timing and purpose, even when it seems delayed? [09:55]
2. How does the promise of eternal life through Jesus change your perspective on physical death and the fears associated with it? [16:57]
3. In moments of grief or suffering, how can you seek and find comfort in God's compassionate presence? [29:39]
4. Consider a current challenge in your life. How can the truth of Jesus' power over death encourage you to trust Him with this situation? [41:14]
5. How can you actively remind yourself of God's comprehensive care in your daily life, especially during difficult times? [45:17]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to trust God's timing. What steps can you take to cultivate patience and trust in His divine wisdom? [08:51]
7. Think of someone in your life who is experiencing pain or loss. How can you demonstrate empathy and support, reflecting God's care for them? [33:08]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in God's Perfect Timing
God's timing often challenges our understanding, especially when prayers seem unanswered. The story of Lazarus illustrates that delays are not signs of neglect but opportunities for greater purposes. Jesus' delay in visiting Lazarus was not due to indifference but to reveal a deeper truth about His divine wisdom and love. This teaches us patience and trust in God's timing, knowing that He orchestrates events for our ultimate good. Reflecting on past experiences where delayed answers led to unexpected blessings can strengthen our faith in His perfect plan. [09:55]
"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a situation where you are waiting for God's answer. How can you actively trust His timing today, even if the answer seems delayed?
Day 2: Assurance of Eternal Life in Christ
Jesus' promise of resurrection and life assures believers of eternal salvation, dispelling the fear of death. This assurance is not based on feelings but on the finished work of Jesus, providing peace and security in our eternal destiny. Understanding that our salvation is secure in Christ allows us to live with confidence and hope, knowing that physical death is not the end but a transition to eternal life. Embrace the peace that comes from this truth, allowing it to transform your perspective on life and death. [16:57]
"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:11-12, ESV)
Reflection: How does the assurance of eternal life in Christ change the way you approach your daily fears and anxieties?
Day 3: God's Empathy in Our Suffering
God's empathy is vividly demonstrated in Jesus' response to Mary and Martha's grief. Jesus wept with them, showing that He deeply feels our pain and sorrow. This empathy is not passive but an active participation in our struggles, offering comfort and understanding in our darkest moments. Knowing that God walks with us through our suffering provides solace and strength, reminding us that we are never alone in our pain. In moments of grief, seek solace in God's compassionate presence, trusting that He understands and cares. [29:39]
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you invite God's compassionate presence into your current struggles or pain today?
Day 4: Trusting in God's Sovereign Power
The resurrection of Lazarus is a powerful demonstration of Jesus' authority over life and death, encouraging us to trust Him with every aspect of our lives. If He can conquer death, He can surely handle our daily challenges. This truth strengthens our faith and trust in God's sovereignty, reminding us that nothing is beyond His control. Let this assurance empower you to entrust your worries and fears to Him, knowing that He is capable and willing to intervene in your life. [41:14]
"Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you." (Jeremiah 32:17, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific challenge you are facing today that you need to entrust to God's sovereign power?
Day 5: Experiencing God's Comprehensive Care
God's care is evident in His actions and presence in our lives. He answers prayers, provides salvation, empathizes with our pain, and demonstrates His power, inviting us to cast all our cares upon Him. This comprehensive care assures us that God is intimately involved in our lives, journeying with us through every challenge. Trust in His love and care, knowing that He is always with us, guiding and supporting us in every situation. [45:17]
"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively cast your cares upon God today, trusting in His comprehensive care and love for you?
Quotes
God cares for us even when our prayers are not immediately answered for a purpose. God cares for us even when our prayers are not immediately answered for a purpose, a purpose we may not understand. When God doesn't answer our prayers immediately in the way we want it, we have to trust that somehow it is good for us. [00:09:15] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Similarly, a loving God doesn't always rush into help because it may not be the best for us. A difficult lesson indeed, but it is because of His great love for us that He doesn't immediately answer our prayers and petition. [00:10:49] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And here then Jesus declares that the resurrection to eternal life happens because of Him, the Savior, the Messiah. He says, I am the resurrection and the life. Without Jesus there is no resurrection and there is no life. But those who believe in Jesus alone are guaranteed to never be in a state of death separated from God. They have eternal life. [00:16:42] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
My friends, our assurance of salvation comes from the security of our salvation based on Jesus' own words and actions. We have the assurance of salvation not based on our own feelings, if we are saved or not. It is based on the truth of the finished work of Christ. [00:17:40] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
God cares because He provides life and salvation through His Son, Jesus. God cares. Because He provides life and salvation through His Son, Jesus. It's a wonderful truth, and we know it well. [00:19:18] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
My friends, the life and salvation we have through Jesus, should dispel our fears of physical death. That's how much God cares for us. He does not want us to be worried all through life about when we will die or how we will die. The focus of the Scriptures is not about death. It is about life. [00:26:32] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
You can see the heart of God through the heart of Jesus, God Himself. He could not bear seeing the people He loved so much, undergo the pain and anguish caused by sin and death. And that's why Jesus Christ was sent by God the Father to die for us, to provide a way of salvation, to thwart the terrible effects of sin. [00:29:39] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
God's grace and His mercy, clearly illustrated here, shows how He doesn't want us to suffer from what we rightfully deserve. And He's even angry when we have to suffer its consequences. That's how much God cares. [00:30:28] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
God cares because He compassionately empathizes with us. God cares because He compassionately empathizes with us. [00:32:18] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
God cares because He raises the dead to life so that we can trust Him. God cares because He raises the dead to life so we can trust Him. My friends, listen carefully. If our Lord is victorious over death, what can we not entrust to Him? [00:40:56] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
My friends, whatever the challenge we're going through, let's remember that our Lord does love and care for us deeply. He cries with us. He knows what we're going through. He wants to journey with us and invites us to cast all of our cares upon Him. Amen. [00:45:30] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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