DIVINE DELAYS: A SETUP FOR A GREATER TESTIMONY
THE SEED
“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.” John 11:5–6 (NKJV)
At first glance, this passage seems puzzling. Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus; yet when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed where He was instead of rushing to heal him. Why would Jesus allow His friends to experience such grief when He could have prevented it? God’s plan often doesn’t align with our human expectations. Martha and Mary longed for Jesus’ immediate return, but His delay was not neglect; it was divine strategy. Jesus waited because He intended to reveal a greater miracle: raising Lazarus from the dead. What seemed like a painful delay was actually a setup for a testimony that would glorify God in a greater way. Delays can tempt us to question God’s love or feel forgotten, but this passage reminds us that divine love does not always mean immediate action. God’s delays are not denials; they are carefully strategic arrangements for something greater. Are you waiting on God for something? Trust that His timing is perfect, and His love is unchanging. What feels like a delay today may turn out to be the foundation of your greatest testimony.
BIBLE READING: John 11:32–44
PRAYER: Lord, help me to trust You, even when I don’t understand. I believe that Your love never fails and that Your plans are always for my good. Strengthen my faith as I wait on You. Amen.
ÌDADURO LATI ORUN WA: IGBESE ERI NLA
IRUGBIN NAA
“Jesu si fẹ́ Mata, ati arabinrin rẹ̀, ati Lasaru: nigbati o si gbọ́ pe o ṣaisan, o duro ijọ meji si i ni ibi ti o gbé wà.” Jòhánù 11:5-6 .
Ni wiwo akọkọ, aye yii dabi iyalẹnu. Jésù nífẹ̀ẹ́ Màtá, Màríà, àti Lásárù; síbẹ̀ nígbà tí ó gbọ́ pé Lasaru ń ṣàìsàn, ó dúró sí ibi tí ó wà dípò kí ó sáré láti mú òun lára dá. Kí nìdí tí Jésù fi máa jẹ́ kí àwọn ọ̀rẹ́ Rẹ̀ ní irú ìbànújẹ́ bẹ́ẹ̀ nígbà tó Ki bá ti dènà rẹ̀? Ètò Ọlọ́run kìí bá àwọn ìfojúsọ́nà ènìyàn mu. Màtá àti Màríà ń yán hànhàn fún ìpadàbọ̀ Jesu ní kíákíá, ṣùgbọ́n ìjáfara Rẹ̀ kìí ṣe àìbìkítà; o je eto ati orun wa. Jesu duro nitori pe O pinnu lati ṣipaya iṣẹ iyanu ti o tobi ju: dide Lasaru kuro ninu oku. Ohun ti o dabi idaduro irora jẹ ipilẹṣẹ fun ẹri ti yoo yin Ọlọrun logo ni ọna ti o tobi julọ. Idaduro le dán wa wò lati beere ifẹ Ọlọrun tabi lero pe a ti gbagbe, ṣugbọn ibi- apakan yii leti wa pe ifẹ atọrunwa ko nigbagbogbo tumọ si iṣe lẹsẹkẹsẹ. Awọn idaduro Ọlọrun kii ṣe kiko; wọn jẹ awọn eto ilana imuse fun nkan ti o tobi julọ. Ti wa ni o nduro lori Ọlọrun nkankan? Gbekele pe akoko Rẹ pe, ati pe ifẹ Rẹ ko yipada. Ohun ti o rilara bi idaduro loni le tan lati jẹ ipilẹ ti ẹri nla rẹ.
BIBELI KIKA: Jòhánù 11:32–44.
ADURA: Oluwa, ran mi lowo lati gbekele O, koda nigbati nko ye mi. Mo gbagbọ pe ifẹ Rẹ ko kuna ati pe awọn ero Rẹ nigbagbogbo fun ire mi ni. Mu igbagbo mi lagbara Bi mo ti nduro de O. Amin.