My mother-in-law laughed unbelievingly as I shared what the message was about. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Hope. A story of death and life. We’d been inundated with the same story for the past two months and I felt sure I knew everything I could ever know about this familiar Bible story.

He died. Jesus raised him back to life. And God received the glory while everyone watching saw God’s power over death.

It’s a great well-known story, a beautiful picture of salvation, of God’s power and His great love. Yet I wondered why this story kept circling in my private study time, Vacation Bible school (in which I taught this lesson 13 times), and our weekly women’s Bible study.

What more could I learn about Lazarus?

Searching for Hope in a Season of Death

Sometimes the Lord keeps bringing a message to mind to teach us a valuable lesson. As I searched for hope in this season of death, I thought about the farm. The familiar anxiety I’ve felt in the past surfaced as I thought of this year’s corn harvest. This week my husband will move the combine and other equipment down the road to harvest our crop. Usually, this is an exciting time filled with hope and expectations as the golden kernels fill the silos. But this time, it only reminds me of last year’s devastation.

We’d lost an entire crop of corn in last year’s hurricane, forcing my husband and father-in-law to find work outside the farm until we could plant again.

It was a season of death for us. We searched for hope despite our circumstances, trusting God regardless of the outcome. I felt overwhelmed and scared, wondering if God would choose to take something else from us. I lost my mom. We lost our livelihood. And I wondered what was next.

I’d even mentioned in passing to my husband that I was scared to pray for this year’s corn crop because what if God took it like He did before?

Then what?

I prayed for my mom to live. She died.

I prayed for our corn to survive. It died.

Could I trust God with this harvest?

God is trustworthy

This relentless message of hope and Lazarus pounded its way into my heart and a little sliver of light and life gave way to the darkness and death I felt. I love the story of Lazarus –the beautiful picture of salvation– and how we are raised from death to life when we trust Jesus as our Savior.  What great hope it gives!

But today it felt different.

I felt a different kind of hope.

The Lord kept whispering hope into my heart, snuffing out the fear, and filling it with great expectations. The words Jesus asked Martha in this story kept running through my mind. “Do you believe this, Martha?”

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”   John 11:25-26

Suddenly, memories returned as I recalled time after time God has been faithful, providing for us in the darkest times, loving us when we don’t deserve it, and blessing us beyond measure. God is faithful. He is good. He is love. And He cares for us.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life and we see in this timeless story of how He prevails over death again. If He can create the world with a spoken word and defeat death and the enemy, can’t He have power over our crop? Can’t He turn something which was dead into new life?

And I heard Him ask, “Amanda, do you believe this?”

A long pause followed. Time after time we will be tested in our Christian faith. The hard times are inevitable. They’ll be filled with loss, disappointment, sorrow, and darkness. But the question remains. Will we continue believing Jesus is who He says He is?

My answer is yes. Like Martha, I responded. “Yes, Lord. I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” And my addition –“And yes, I believe you have the power over life, death, and the future of our crops. I trust you with our lives and our livelihood are in your hands. To God be the glory.”

Going Forward in Faith

Maybe you’re experiencing your own disappointments and you’ve doubted God’s love and His plan. It’s easy to give up and walk away, but can I tell you something? Don’t do it. Don’t stop believing. Keep living. Keep trusting.

The enemy relentlessly creates doubt and taunts us with past memories of unanswered prayers. If we doubt God’s love and provision and if we waste our time on what-ifs, we let the enemy win. The Bible describes our enemy as a thief, seeking to kill and destroy, and a lion seeking whom he may devour.

Don’t let him steal your faith this week.

Don’t let him kill your joy.

When we align ourselves with the Lord and His word, our prayer life reflects the Lord’s will to be done in our lives. When we seek His face, we’re able to discern the difference between truth and lies. The truth is, He’s trustworthy and He’s got this no matter what happens.

Scripture Study

• Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Hebrews 13:20-21
• Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.     2 Thessalonians 3:16
• And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
• Rather, as servants of God, we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance, in troubles, hardships and distresses. 2 Corinthians 6:4
• But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid. John 14:26-27