Changing your dead perspective

Author: Mary Schepers Pena

 Everything about Lazarus’ situation looked bleak to his family and friends. Everything. They had faith that Jesus could heal him…and they got word to Jesus that he needed to be healed, but when Jesus didn’t arrive and Lazarus died, I’m sure their faith in Jesus was challenged. For four days their hearts were saddened as the hope that they had in Lazarus being healed faded once he died. I’m sure they were upset with Jesus as grief and reality started to set in. They were human and dealt with the same kinds of emotions we do. John 11:20-22 says, “When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Martha’s perspective was very different from Jesus.’ She thought that her brother wouldn’t have died if Jesus had come sooner. But Jesus knew the impact he could have in raising Lazarus from the dead was much greater than healing him of his sickness. We can choose what perspective we have in any situation. We can choose to have a dying perspective, or we can choose to have the perspective that God is in control and His plans are better than ours. A dying perspective lacks faith in Jesus and lacks hope in knowing God has already gone ahead and made provisions. A life-giving perspective is what Jesus had and what He desires for us to have. It takes faith and trust in God’s plans to have a life-giving perspective. It’s not always easy to have this perspective as we see Lazarus die, but when we know that Jesus raised him from the dead and trust that He can change any situation for His glory, we press on to see what He’s going to do in our seemingly dying situations as well. Press on friend! He is a good, good Father.