Today marks three years post stem-cell transplant. My parents surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers that included three Gerber daisies to celebrate my cell’s third birthday!
This morning I worshiped with my church congregation and sang about how the Resurrected King is resurrecting me.
Think about this story:
When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them.
They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”
Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.
But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”
Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” —John 11:32-44
Was hope delayed? Where does hope feel delayed in your life? Do you resonate with Mary’s question…Jesus, where have you been?!
I’m within hours of finishing this first draft and desire to have it self-published this time next year. God is so good. Thank you for your prayers. Here’s a rough excerpt about how hope was delayed in my own life. Enjoy!