"Better"

Why couldn’t it be, better you see,

I knew all the prayers that they prayed,

Asked for relief, but time like a thief,

Passed and still challenges stayed.

I finally got mad, it took all I had,

Not to blame God to His face,

Like Martha once said, my brother is dead,

And Lord, You came late to this place.

But God is on time, with every hard climb,

Just as He was long ago,

He knows what and when, and all that has been,

Sometimes it’s hard when we don’t know.

The more hopeless it seems, and shattered the dreams,

The more we must lean in and trust,

Else the devil will say, that all the delay,

Is all your own fault, it’s a bust.

But don’t cave to that lie, stand up and try,

To put it all back on the Lord,

He will come through, I tell you, it’s true,

Just watch when He picks up His sword.

Sometimes dead are raised, and we are amazed,

Or maybe just graces to learn,

He’ll change everything or peace He will bring,

To walk through the fire without burn.

He’s a beautiful friend, though some would pretend,

That they alone have the close spot,

But it’s humility for the broken, you see,

That He will grace more than a lot.

And in Jesus’ name, the chaos will tame,

And you will have peace past your mind,

The One who is true and always for you,

Will give all the grace you can find.

“‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’” (John 11:21-22, NIV)

The obvious feeling Martha had was to blame Lazarus’ death on Jesus’ delay base on what she said to Him when He got there. But even in her grief she still had faith in Jesus. Or at least she had faith in his prayers. This, to me, is powerful. She did not understand, she was heartbroken, yet she still believed. Jesus told Martha what he was about to do, but she thought he meant her brother would be raised on resurrection day. Jesus called himself resurrection and life, and made the miracle that John recorded. Can we trust God’s timing even when it seems He is late? Can we wait for the miracle God intends rather than what we think He should do? Faith happens when we trust the Lord. Faith frows stronger when we trust His timing.

Lord, help us to trust You, in Jesus’ name.

Art bu Mark Maggiori, used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.