When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.—John 11:17

“There are times when our spirit flags from weariness or difficulty. We feel about as energetic as a hibernating bear. Our world feels covered in shadow and sleep. Then there are times when we are filled with anxiety. The world races by throwing troubles at us in the most random and unexpected ways. We are not sure if we can find a place that is calm and quiet, someplace that will allow us to rest without fear. We cast about looking for support to keep us safe. There are also times when we feel encased in a dark, cold tomb, and the breath that once moved freely through us has been forcibly silenced. It feels like all hope is gone, and life will never be given to us again. Yet, even in the tomb, hope is not lost.

In an instant we feel the presence of the Holy One nearby. Something in us begins to quiver and we feel the unseen force of God beginning to flow around us. We may not know what will happen. We may not yet believe that anything will change, but we know we are not alone. We know that the pain of our heart has not been ignored. We know that the lifelessness that covers us has not been dismissed. We matter. Our pain matters. Our life matters. All we need do is be still and wait for heaven’s touch, heaven’s voice, heaven’s breath. Life will come to us again.” (Renee Miller, explorefaith.org, Signposts – Daily Devotions, “Hope Is Not Lost”)

There was a moment, standing outside the tomb of Lazarus, that Jesus felt a stirring in his own soul. Here, even though he knew he had the power to raise his friend, something inside Jesus, even if for a fraction of a moment, something turned dark. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴² I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” (John 11:41-42) In the darkness of this first tomb, Jesus turned to His Father in heaven to pray.

When we are in our own darkness, we need to do the same – after all, if it is good enough for Jesus, it sure as heck is good enough for us. Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus again turns to His Father in prayer. Paul says in his letter to the church in Rome that we often do not know what to pray or how to pray. But even if we just groan in our speechless moments, the Holy Spirit speaks for us. We need simply turn to G-d in our weakest moments, put our thoughts upon the Lord, and leave the rest to G-d.

Pastor Dave