In addition to the anguish of losing her brother, it must have been very confusing for poor Martha.  They had sent for the Master but He had not come . . . at least not in time.  When Jesus did arrive He engaged her in a conversation more suited to her sister.  Mary, after all, was more of the theologian . . . the academic . . . the student who sat at Jesus feet listening to His teachings.  Martha was the practical one . . . most likely to gravitate to serving than sitting (Luke 10:38-42).  But Jesus engaged her in conversation.  And, while it may have been a bit heady for her, especially given her grief, Martha knew what to say when you don’t know what to say . . .

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”  She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
(John 11:23-27  ESV)

I think Martha may have been a bit overwhelmed by the conversation.  Her brother was dead . . . she was mourning . . . Jesus had somehow missed it . . . and now He wanted to capture a teachable moment for her?  She knew the theory of the resurrection . . . what she was dealing with was the reality of death’s devastation.  But Jesus wanted to draw her focus to Himself . . . that He was the substance behind the theory . . . that He is the resurrection and life.

Kind of heady stuff perhaps . . . especially if you’re in the fog of grief and mourning.  Perhaps a bit much to take in . . . dying then living . . . living and never dying.  I can imagine her head spinning a bit.  But then she caught the question, “Do you believe this?”  And though I wonder if she wasn’t quite all that sure exactly what THIS meant, she knew what to say when you don’t know what to say.

Yes, Lord . . . . I believe.

Sometimes, that’s the best we can come up with.  We don’t understand the why’s of the situation . . . we’re reeling as we ride an apparently out-of-control roller coaster of emotion . . . the promises from God’s word have to battle to get to the forefront of our thinking.  In those times, when we don’t know what’s going on . . . when we don’t quite know how to respond . . . when we don’t know what to say . . .  in those times, sometimes all we can say is, “Lord I believe.”

I believe You’ll never leave me or forsake me . . . I believe I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me . . . I believe that nothing can separate me from Your love . . . I believe that all things work together for good for those called according to Your purpose . . . I believe that, through my trials are painful, that through them You are continuing Your work of conforming me into the image of Your blessed Son.  Yes Lord, I believe.

By His grace . . . for His glory . . .