Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

When God Calls us to Wait upon Him

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus[a] was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.  John 11:1-6

A. What God’s Delays are not:

1. God’s indifference toward our hurting situation: Psalm 27:14, Psalm 31:24, Psalm 37:7

2. God’s anger vented at us: Psalm 74:1

3. God’s denial of our pleas for help: James 4:3

B. What Good may come to our souls by God’s Delays:

1. Development of a fervent prayer life: Luke 18:1-9

2. Development of a submissive heart: Philippians 4:4-7

3. Development of faith in His Person not His provision alone: Habakkuk 3:17-19