If it is Your Will, then I will

I went to Rhode Island to visit my ex-pastor over the weekend. It was a 11 hr drive and by the time we got back home on Sun, I was pretty tired. I was bored from driving.

The trip was definitely worthwhile and spiritually refreshing. We spent a number of nights with lots of Q&As. We did a Bible study on Titus. And we had fellowship with one another.

Despite the tiredness, I still go for a bike ride yesterday after work. The weather was simply too good to miss.

Riding is more than a physical act. I consider it as a spiritual experience.

The road is my sanctuary. It is the place where I can let go of my everyday life and focus on Him. A place where I experience His presence. A place where I can open myself up and simply be.

And yesterday it was no exception. I reflected on many things. And there are some things that I wonder when I will receive.

And I am reminded the need to wait.

In John 11, Mary and Martha told Jesus that Lazarus is sick. Jesus reacted with, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it" (v. 4).

The author goes on explaining that Jesus love Martha and her sister and Lazarus (v. 5). Yet when one heard of a love one sick, he/she will rush over to visit. Jesus instead stayed where He was for two days (v.7).

By the time He went to Bethany, Lazarus was passed away and in the tomb for four days (v.17). Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." (v. 21-22).

Seeing the weeping of Mary, Martha and the Jews, Jesus was touched (v. 33). He went to Lazarus tomb (v. 33). Jesus wept for Lazarus when He got there (v. 35).

When Jesus asked the tomb to be open, Martha warned of the bad odor from the dead (v. 39). Jesus replied with, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (v. 40)

When they took the stone away, Jesus asked Lazarus to come out and he did.

Was there a need for Mary and Martha to wait? The sisters must be concern to seeing their brother dying. They even travel to where Jesus was to let Him know. Jesus loves Lazarus (v. 5), even wept for him (v. 35). One would argue that why did Jesus let Lazarus died. If He wants to help Lazarus, the one He love from suffering, He could rush to Lazarus on hearing that he was sick. Instead He waited for two days.

Waited. Jesus could have kept Lazarus from dying as someone suggested in verse 37. Instead, He waited so that the glory of God (v. 40) might be revealed. Before telling Lazarus to come out of the tomb, He spoke to His Father, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I 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." (v. 41-42).

Waiting. There are a few things that I am asking for and questioning. One area is relationship.

I remember last year as I was training for my Ironman. And I was having a hard time with a relationship.

The long bike ride became the place where I vented, I griped and I opened up what I was feeling. A lot of questions and a lot of whys.

"Cliff, why are you worry so much? Haven't I protect you from the bike accident? Did you forget that I gave you a liver transplant and keep you alive while you were drunk? Why do you have so little faith?"

And yesterday's bike ride was a good reminder. That waiting is for His Will. And if it is through His Will, then I will.