Devotions this week are based on Week 5 Temptation to Triumph: Tears: Hope for the Hurting (WATCH HERE)
John 11:41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.
The raising of Lazarus is not just about restoring life. Jesus makes it clear that this moment is meant to lead people to believe. His focus is not only on changing the situation, but on creating and strengthening faith.
The situation was hard. Lazarus was dead. Yet, Jesus invites all to believe. He says that if they believe, they will see the glory of God. This is the invitation. Trust first, then see. Faith often comes before understanding. We do not wait until everything makes sense to trust God. We trust Him in the middle of uncertainty.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
In our lives, it is easy to focus on what we see. We often ask God to fix our circumstances. We want relief. We want resolution. But God is often doing something deeper. He is using the situation to shape our hearts, strengthen our faith, and draw us closer to Him.
This changes how we view our struggles. Instead of seeing them only as obstacles, we begin to see them as opportunities for growth. God is not only concerned with what we go through, but with who we are becoming.
Walking by faith means choosing to trust God even when the outcome is unclear. It means taking small steps of faith, believing that He is at work. It also means encouraging others in their journey, reminding them that God is shaping something meaningful in their lives.
After seeing Jesus’ miracle, many believed. They came with tears to mourn the loss of Lazarus, but the tears didn’t end in sadness, they led to trust. They transformed. They led to a deeper trust in a faithful God. I pray they do the same for us!
Reflect: How might God be using your current struggles to shape your faith? What is one step of trust you can take this week?
Prayer: Father, thank You for using even difficult moments to grow my faith. Help me to trust You more deeply and to believe that You are working for my good. Strengthen my heart to follow You with confidence and hope. Amen.