Choosing the Good Portion Series - Part 6
I was watching The Chosen and it reminded me of how much I like Martha, even though she gets a bad rap sometimes. If you recall, her brother Lazarus died, she sent word to Jesus, and Jesus didn’t end up coming right away because the grand plan was for Jesus to raise Lazarus from the dead after four days “so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4)
So, when Martha saw Jesus four days after her brother died, she must have been so confused and hurt that her dear Savior wouldn’t come and heal Lazarus when she thought he needed Him the most.
Isn’t that the human heart, though? We get so focused on ourselves, thinking we know the plan better than God, and completely forget that life is not about us. Everything is to ultimately point our hearts and others to God.
But when Martha saw Jesus after Lazarus had been dead for 4 days, she said, “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” (John 11:22) She didn’t see this death as the end. She knew that since Jesus was there, He could do anything! I love that faith in Martha.
Jesus had a plan that involved many people, not just Mary and Martha. While His miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead probably impacted the two sisters the most, there were many others that this miracle was for. And this was Jesus’ last miracle! Mic drop, right!?
How does this story impact us?
1. What we go through is not just for us
2. How we respond to trials matters
3. We have a responsibility to glorify God in every trial we face
These questions really hit me as I have my next doctor’s appointment in a couple days. This is the appointment that I’ve been waiting for since December 2023. The one to see if the parathyroid tumor has grown, stayed the same, or miraculously disappeared. When I look back over the last eight months of waiting, I see all the wrestling I’ve done with the Lord. The questions I’ve asked, the anger at times, the fears and the countless days of crying out to Him. But God is so kind because I have finally landed in such a place of peace and strength the last few days. Ultimately, it comes down to this: I want whatever brings Him the most glory.
Do I know what outcome will bring God the most glory? I don’t. But I have to trust. I have to trust that He is working behind the scenes on my behalf and will be with me every moment of every day. I have to trust that regardless of a recurrence or not, my joy is to bring Him praise and obey. That’s our testimony! And the thing is, we all have a testimony and we are called to comfort others.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
God doesn’t comfort us so that we can live a perfect and comfortable life. No, He comforts us so that we can comfort others.
Recurrence or not. Healthy or not. Whatever the case, God has me and He has YOU.
Questions to ask ourselves this week:
Like Martha, do you believe God has the power to do something even when you see no way?
Do you believe that what you’ve walked through is for the comfort and help for others?
Have you put yourself in a comfortable bubble out of fear?
Let’s praise God that He has a beautiful plan and while nothing makes sense at times like Mary and Martha probably thought, He has the situation and He has you.
Choose the good portion this week as you walk in His truth.
-Nicole
