When God Is Silent

Written by John Grant

Take Today’s Next Step: Learn to recognize God’s voice.

“So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick.’ When he heard this, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.’” (John 11:3-4)

When Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother (Jesus’ friend) was gravely ill and requested that He come, Jesus delayed going. The family went through the entire funeral process and by the time Jesus got there Lazarus had been dead four days.

Mary, knowing the healing power of the Master, said, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21, KJV) That would be correct. But if He had come and healed Lazarus, they would have learned nothing new about Jesus. By waiting four days, it allowed Him to show even more power. His delay and silence was not rejection. Rather, it was an opportunity to know more of Him than they had ever known.