A living lesson

Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped in strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. John 11:43-44



When was the last time you found yourself playing a role in life that you didn’t want to play?

Perhaps you never imagined you’d be the parent of an addicted teen, the wife of an estranged husband, a cancer patient, a divorced man, the victim of abuse, the target of violence, the recipient of slander, or among the ranks of the unemployed.


I wonder if Lazarus ever felt the same when he was ill and not getting better. His life wasn’t supposed to go this way. He was Jesus’ friend, after all. Christ could heal him, and if He would only come to help, Lazarus would get up out of bed and be the man he once was.

But Jesus didn’t come—and Lazarus died.


We know from Scripture that God raised his friend from the dead, but in the middle of his messy trial, Lazarus didn’t know that would happen. All he knew was that he was sick and he wanted to be healed. He also didn’t know that Christ was using him in a story He was writing to glorify Himself so that others would be drawn to Him.

In John 11:14, Jesus told his disciples, “. . .for your sake I am glad I was not there [with Lazarus before he died], so that you may believe.”


When you find yourself playing a role in life that you’d rather not, could it be possible that just like God did in the life of Lazarus, that He wants to use you for His glory? Could it be that what you are going through could be a gift to others?


With this in mind, when you go through a trial, how will you respond? Will you dare to trust God and desire His glory? Or, will you be more concerned about your own comfort?

Before you answer that question, I invite you to think about what happens when God is glorified.

When He is glorified, emotions are healed, fears vanish, relationships are restored, hope flourishes, peace reigns, joy rules, love grows, and faith flourishes in people’s lives and hearts.

Could it be that your trial could be the very reason someone comes to Christ and experiences His love in a greater way? Will you allow Him to use you the way He desires? Will you let the light of Christ shine through you? Will you surrender to how He wants to use you in His story?