Text: John 11:1, 4–6, 20–23, 39&40
Memory Verse: “Jesus said unto her, Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40).
Banke felt ashamed and avoided church because she thought God had failed her. She had prayed for her sick friend, even laid hands in faith, yet no healing occurred. Embarrassed and disheartened, she slipped away, offering excuses. In that moment, she forgot something vital: that the glory of answered prayers belongs to God, so does the burden of outcomes we cannot yet comprehend. God is not only glorified in instant victories, but also in delayed revelations.
In John 11, Jesus delayed going to Lazarus, knowing He would later raise him from the dead. Mary and Martha must have felt abandoned. Jesus loved their family, yet He did not come when they expected. But His delay was not absence, It was purposeful. Jesus told them, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God.” The shame, the grief, the confusion; He bore all to reveal a greater testimony. Many times, God’s silence is not rejection; it is preparation for a deeper revelation.
We often measure God’s faithfulness by how quickly He meets our expectations. But faith is not about controlling the outcome; it is trusting even when things do not go our way. Like Banke, many of us struggle when our obedience does not lead to visible results. God, however, remains sovereign, and His ways are higher than ours.
If you feel discouraged because things did not turn out how you hoped, release the pressure. Surrender both the glory and the shame to God. He alone knows the perfect time to show up and He always does.
Prayer Points:
1. Lord, teach me to stay with You on the good days and bad days.
2. Holy Spirit, lead me to the point where my trust is without borders.