It looks like a mistake.
Questioning, I read it again.
Certain of His character,
Shining through the ink
Of these thin, precious pages,
but not following,
not understanding.
He waited
two days longer?
But He loved them!
Why did He not run
to make it right?
Why did He not tell the others
the plan
of what would follow?
Why not put minds to rest,
and still do the miracle?
But He holds back.
And I look at those two days
through the eyes of disbelief,
and can’t see the purpose.
I see pain,
waves of sorrow,
the choking tears of grief.
Surely I would have run
to the side of my friends.
I would have comforted
the anxious hearts
and held the trembling hands.
But I am not the Saviour.
He looks through the eyes of faith,
and sees the Father’s plan.
He sees that loss will bring gain.
He knows that doubt will turn to faith.
He will watch tears of sorrow turn to joy.
Those two days of delay
lit a refiner’s fire in the hearts of those around
and brought the dross to the surface.
Those two days of delay
gave an opportunity
for believing disbelief,
miraculous healing,
unspeakable joy.
Those two days of delay
changed the eternity
of some who saw.
Those two days of delay
show me
that my waiting serves a purpose that isn’t instantly seen.
That my suffering may reap a reward
that lasts longer than my life.
That my unbelieving heart
needs to trust in what I cannot see.
Those two days of delay call me to submit
the timing, the delays, the ‘mistakes’
to the Sovereign
All-knowing One,
who is weaving together a perfect plan,
who is measuring each wave that billows against me,
who is determining the length of my path,
and the weight of my cross,
who knows
exactly what to do
and when to wait
two days longer.
Photo: Unsplash
