As I’m reading this morning, I’m a bit overwhelmed by stuff that’s going on around me that’s kind of hard to figure out. Stuff that evokes the “Why?” question . . . stuff that is confusing . . . stuff that involves wanting the will of God . . . but not quite sure how He will make His will known. And sometimes life’s just kinda’ like that. Even though you’d like to hit the “pause button” and put things on hold for a few minutes while you catch up and try and figure out what’s going on . . . it doesn’t work like that. And while I’m sure this mindset colors my readings this morning, I do think the events at the beginning of John 11 could also be considered somewhat confusing.

If you’re Mary and Martha in Bethany you’re confused as to why your brother Lazarus has taken so ill so quickly. It’s obvious he is not gong to recover . . . the “why?” question is all over this . . . why would a young, vibrant, devout man be so sick? . . . what’s God doing here? . . . there’s a sense of desperation . . . and so they turn to Messiah . . . they send a runner with a simple message, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” And they wait in bewilderment . . .

If you’re the disciples things are confusing as well. They’re present when the messenger arrives. They know how much Jesus loves Martha, Mary, and their brother (11:5) and yet when He hears how sick Lazarus is, they stay another two days where they are. “Isn’t He going to do something?” they wonder. Then, 48 hours later, He says, “Let’s go to Judea.” But back the bus up . . . that doesn’t make any sense either . . . they all know that the Jews are bent on executing Him . . . they just tried to stone Him . . . they tried to seize them and they just barely escaped out of their hands (John 10:31,39). Does He really wanna go back there? “Lord, are You going there again?” they ask. What’s going on?

Jesus answers them in a way that is far from crystal clear. Something about 12 hours of daylight . . . and as long as one walks in daylight He doesn’t stumble. What’s that about? And then Jesus says that they need to go back because “Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up” (11:11). Ok . . . isn’t that a good thing . . . if he sleeps then he’ll get well . . . so why are we going back there again? Oh . . . so confusing . . .

And then Jesus says to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him” (11:14-15).

And it’s that phrase “that you may believe” that jumped off the page at me. Why the confusion? That you may believe. Why do “next steps” seem so foggy? That you may believe. Why no “pause button?” So that all that is left is to trust Him . . . to follow Him to the best of our understanding . . . and believe. Even cynical Thomas knew there was one only one thing that made any sense in this non-sensical situation, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (11:16) Thomas didn’t see how this could turn out well, but He also knew that they had placed their hope in Jesus and, as such, they would follow Him.

So . . . I’m thinking that the confusing times are allowed to present themselves to us so that we may believe. That we would trust in the Lord with all our hearts . . . and lean not to our own understanding. That in all our ways we would acknowledge Him and believe that He will direct our paths. (Prov. 3:5-6)

Confusing situations are not easy to work through . . . but, if we’ll let them, they will drive us to seek to follow Jesus . . . to trust Him . . . to believe. They can strengthen our faith . . . they can teach us lessons. They can drive us to putting His word into practice and being “anxious for nothing” and in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, bringing the situation before our God believing that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through our precious Savior (Php. 4:6-7). They compel us to believe the promise of God when He says that all things work together for good to those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). Maybe no less confusing . . . but a whole lot more comforting.

Father, You know what’s going on even when I don’t. So I will look to You . . . I will call out to You . . . I will rest in You . . . and I will believe . . . help my unbelief . . . Amen!