John 11:1-44 not only depicts one of Jesus’ greatest miracles, the raising of Lazarus from the dead, it also provides insight into the difference between God’s perspective and ours. To Jesus, Lazarus being dead, embalmed, wrapped, and sealed in a tomb for four days posed no cause for stress. To our minds, as to those of Martha and Mary, it seems like Jesus should’ve healed Lazarus before he died!

Jesus had the whole picture, the plan, and the power to accomplish the Lord’s greater glory, so He had peace. Martha, Mary, and anyone else who cared about Lazarus could only see the “too little too late”, causing despair, lament, anger, and confusion. “Why…?!” “Why didn’t…?!” “Where were you when we needed you?!”

Wouldn’t we feel the same? Don’t we feel the same? All of us can relate to times when things were falling apart, all hope was lost, and we had already begun to grieve at least one loss that occurred as a result. Loss of a family member, a relationship, a job, a dream, belonging and good reputation in a group, financial, health, etc.

These stories would all have ended in tragedy and despair if it weren’t for the Lord’s miraculous intervention. When He, (greater than Superman), enters the scene and turns darkness to daylight, endings into entrances, grief into gratitude, even graves into gardens (love the song by that title).

We can read so many stories about this in the Bible, and rejoice, feel encouraged, and praise the Lord for them every time… then when it’s our turn to need that kind of intervention, we give up, figuring “that was back then, in Bible times”. As someone once noted, “Everyone wants to experience a miracle, but no one wants to really need one!”

When we do need one, it helps to remember that “God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Heb. 13:8) The same One who parted the Red Sea and raised Lazarus from the dead four days “late”, hasn’t changed. He still has the plan, purpose, power, and resulting perspective we need to make the best out of what seems the worst.

Such as when we were trying to return to China to continue teaching at a university there. In Aug. 2009, when the economy had tanked, and we had neither income nor provision to go anywhere. We just thought we’d heard from the Lord that we needed to go back, and the university had asked us to. Only one problem—they weren’t willing to pay for round-trip airfare, since we could only stay for one semester. They’d provide room, board, and the small stipend we’d had before, but we’d have to get there on our own.

If it had really been on our own, we never would have made it back. In fact, the fall semester began, and still no way to return had appeared. “But I thought the Lord wanted us there, bringing students and even faculty to Him like we did before!”, I lamented. Much like Martha and Mary, who were sure Jesus would surely come and heal His good friend and wondered why He hadn’t come yet.

Then He intervened. One week into the semester we got a call from the owner of a house we’d lived in, who “happened to be” a Chinese believer—with an offer to pay our airfare to China in exchange for us retrieving her two dogs from Beijing and accompanying them back here!

“Lazarus, come forth!” “Tofilon family—return to China, lead people to Me, and bring Mrs. F’s dogs back to her!” Lazarus came out of the tomb. We returned to China, saw the Lord work mightily there, and saw Mrs. F’s grateful expression when she was reunited with her dogs after 2 long years. Everyone won. He got the glory.

As with raising Lazarus and all other times, His perspective, plan, and power, made the difference. We just needed to believe, even as Martha decided to, when she responded to Jesus (Jn. 11:21-27). Believe that He is both able and willing to do what needs to be done.

Because, like Jesus, when we know everything is under control and going according to plan, we’re not anxious or in a hurry. We’re just “doggedly determined” to watch Him work things out for the best!