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My question for you is: How do you and I, as Christians, cope when there are no answers? When we are convinced God should respond, circumstances should change, or things should be different? When we want so much to know why, and the answers aren’t there?
Mary and Martha had that problem. They sent for Jesus to heal their brother, but when Jesus finally arrived, it was too late; Lazarus was already dead. Martha was upset with Jesus, and we read in John 11:21 she said to him, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. She asked him for an answer to her question: Why didn’t you come, Lord?
I find Jesus’ words to her at this time very interesting. He did not defend his actions; he did not say, “Martha, let me explain to you exactly what I did and why.” No, when Martha was looking for answers to her unanswered questions, Jesus took her back to basics.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).
You see, if Martha believes this, the condition of Lazarus at the present moment is not of such great consequence, because Lazarus believed in Jesus, and he would never die an eternal death.
Jesus wanted Martha to think with an eternal perspective. Yes, her brother’s body was in a tomb, but the real Lazarus had not died, and if Martha can focus her mind on that, it will change her perspective altogether. And to her credit, Martha confessed out loud, yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.
When you don’t have answers, stop and ask a different question: Who do you believe Jesus is? And then confess out loud exactly what you believe about the person of Jesus. It’s important that you say it out loud, I think, so you can hear your own confession of faith.
We may never know some of the answers we’re looking for this side of heaven, but we can always confidently know the answer to the question: Who do you think Jesus is? By concentrating your thoughts on who he is, you will have the peace and strength you need for those unanswered questions. If that was the question Jesus asked Martha when she wanted answers, then surely it is the starting place for us today when we want answers but they’re not forthcoming.