Monday Morning Manna

Monday, September 20

Monday Morning Manna   

Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:23

Are we there yet? Has anyone ever heard those words on a road trip? Anyone ever said those words on a road trip? I know I am guilty of doing both. I can remember taking road trips as a kid and at each pit stop I would ask the question ‘Are we there yet?’ Now this was before the days of GPS so you had no timer to tell you how much longer before you reach your destination. And during this time travel was pretty rough. Our car had no a/c, only FM/AM radio, no electronics which means no YouTube to keep you occupied or GPS to see how much longer before you arrived. When I read today’s verse, I can relate to Mary questioning the time it took Jesus to arrive at her home. She may have asked the question many times that evening – Is He (Jesus) here yet?

Have you ever wondered about God’s timing? You’re not alone. We read today some of Jesus’ close friends did, too. When Lazarus became deathly ill, his sisters, Mary and Martha, asked Jesus for help. Jesus’ journey to Mary was a long one. In fact, she said if only you were here this would not have happened, what took you so long? They knew Jesus’ ministry was growing, in fact His current travel was a part of this growing ministry. But Jesus didn’t show up. Two days later when He arrived, it was too late. Lazarus was dead.

Maybe you too have questioned Jesus’ timing. The trouble you are in you need a response from God NOW! You knew exactly when He needed to show up and what He needed to do, but it didn’t work out the way you had planned. Today’s account reminds us that even when we don’t understand, He can be trusted.

Isaiah 55:8–9 says, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” Today you may not understand the delay or the move of God, but I encourage you to keep trusting, believing and holding on. God is still in control.