Beautiful Rebecca, born with a disability that left her unable to walk, gets around the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo by using her hands to propel herself over the volcanic rocks. A country known for being the worst place in the world to be a woman, oppressed by violence and war, is home to Rebecca.
With the overwhelming hardships of her life, constantly moving between makeshift homes to escape violence and war that had plagued her since birth, she faced an even greater tragedy. She was just 14 years old when a soldier assaulted her. He stripped away her remaining dignity, leaving her physically and emotionally broken, and pregnant.
We might ask, why Rebecca? Why didn’t God protect her? How can we believe God is good when life is this difficult?
Our story is probably very different from Rebecca’s. Yet a shared human experience of brokenness leads many to ask God, “Why did you let this happen to me?” We wrestle with the concept that if God is all-powerful, why does He allow evil things to happen.
When sin entered the world, hurt and pain followed. And God, in His mercy and grace, provided a hope for us—the overcomer, Jesus Christ. Even as Jesus walked on the Earth, He said there would be difficulties in life, and yet in the end, He would overcome them.
“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33 HCSB)
Even though Jesus will overcome all evil in the end, He still weeps with us for the pain we experience. In fact, the shortest verse in the entire Bible comes when Jesus experienced the grief of death and the pain it caused those He loved.
“Jesus wept” (John 11:35 HCSB).
His weeping over the brokenness of humanity and the hurt and pain they experienced revealed His great compassion.
It was Lazarus; His dear friend. Once alive and now tasting death. It wasn’t supposed to be this way, and yet here it is.
But Jesus knew the ending. He knew He was going to bring Lazarus back to life and even told His disciples so. And still, He wept.
The Jesus of yesterday is the Jesus of today. He sees you and knows you. He weeps with you even though He knows a day is coming when there will be no more mourning, crying, pain, or death, and all things will be made new. (Revelation 21:3-5 HCSB)
As Jesus looked deeply into the hopeless eyes of Lazarus’s sister, he reminded her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God” (John 11:40 HCSB)?
Even when all seems dead? Even when hope is gone and the future looks dim?
Yes, even then.
Silence from the Lord, delay in the saving, desperation unmet, are often what causes our faith to falter. We doubt; we blame. Lazarus’s sister Mary did it; and so did Martha. Both of their conversations with Jesus began with, “Lord, if …. then…”
We know Jesus can stop tragedy, but when He doesn’t operate the way we think He should; our faith struggles. We began to doubt His love, His goodness, and our trust may wane.
Each of us has our own story. Much of what we experience in life is never what God intended for us. Sin’s arrival brought with it brokenness, darkness, tragedy, and loss.
It is here that we find Jesus still present. Weeping when we weep. Even when He knows the hope that He is bringing.
The enemy wants us to believe that this is how life will be from now on. In truth, we have a Savior who stays with us during difficult times. It doesn’t mean we are completely removed from hardships, but it does mean Jesus will never leave us and will bring life to our situations.
Jesus, with tear-filled eyes yet with the authority of the deliverer, stood before Lazarus’s tomb, commanding, “Take away the stone” (John 11:39 HCSB).
Doubts fly. Questions come in abundance. Disbelief is the norm. And the same question He posed to Martha, He poses to us.
“Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God” (John 11:40 HCSB)?
He promises—and we doubt.
He tells us to believe in Him—and we don’t.
The miracle worker, the compassionate one, enters our dark tombs of hurt, anger, disappointment, loneliness, and more, and does what we have given up hope for.
As Jesus called Lazarus to come out, He beckons us to come out from what’s breaking us. Jesus instructed those watching Lazarus walk out of the tomb to remove His grave clothes and let him live.
The voice of our Savior is calling us to live today. Come out and be free of all that entangles you.
Come out of the darkness of bitterness, rage, anger, disappointment, victimhood, fear, doubt, regrets, controlling behaviors, and whatever else is weighing you down. Sometimes, we come out but still walk around with our grave clothes on, reminding ourselves of what happened in our past.
Yet Jesus is telling us to be free, shake off the grave clothes, and walk freely and light in Him. Don’t be tripped up by past circumstances and situations; instead, walk as a dead person brought back to life—for that is what He has done.
Jesus has not left you. He will walk through every trial and difficulty with you.
And what of Rebecca, the girl in the Congo?
Jesus has redeemed her story. He has brought beauty into the darkness. Rebecca heard about the love of Jesus and gave her life to Him, to the One who loves her completely and wholly.
And what’s more, not only does she have hope for eternity, she has received a wheelchair and a newly built safe-home where she can live in peace and security. All because Jesus said, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God” (John 11:40 HCSB)?
There is no darkness so dark that the Father’s love and light cannot penetrate. There is no power and authority greater than Him. His love for us knows no bounds.
There is “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39; NIV HCSB).
God, in His infinite power and love, can transform trials and struggles into something good. Don’t let your difficult circumstances or situations determine what you believe about God. He is good. His love never wavers, and He will overcome all.
Just don’t stop believing.
May we continue to live…
Rooted in Him,
