Comforts from the cross

I just don't understand why there has to be so much suffering!? Have you, yourself said this before, crying out to God for understanding? I have too. We can understand a bit of this mystery when we read the account of Lazarus in the Bible. In John 11 we learn that a very good friend of Jesus is dying. His sisters, Mary and Martha, tell Jesus about his sickness. But listen to Jesus' response. "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." WoW Lazarus was sick for this reason that God may receive glory! You would think Jesus would come to his rescue and save him from the sickness but Jesus does something no one saw coming. He stayed far away from Lazarus! How bizarre...Do you ever feel far from the Lord when you are suffering as if He has left you to fend for yourself? I'm sure Mary and Martha felt the same way. How could their close friend Jesus leave them right when they needed Him most? But Jesus had a very good reason and He has a very good reason for your trial or suffering! Four days after Lazarus died Jesus came. What? Why Jesus? You could have saved him. I know you loved him so why? Martha responds by saying, "Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died." I have felt that before...Lord if you would only answer my prayer so my suffering will go away. I know that you love me, so why? Jesus waited so His glory would be seen! He raised Lazarus from the dead! Sure His glory would be seen if He cured him of his disease while he was living, but wow, when He said, "Lazarus, come out!" everything changed! God received glory! Do you know that in your suffering God is with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. He might rescue you from the flames of pain, He may walk with you through the flames of pain or He may take you home from the flames of pain. Any which way it happens, He is there with you! So take heart friend! He has you where He wants you.

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