Frequently we refer to segments of our lives as “seasons.” Some seasons of our personal stories bring hope and joy. Some are so challenging that we define them with a distinct “before” and “after.” I now find myself using the term “pre-Covid” to refer to life before the pandemic.
Perhaps someone who was supposed to provide safety for you didn’t, and then harm came upon you. Maybe a diagnosis or tragedy interrupted your plans, and you long for a do-over. Possibly you’re heartsick from a betrayal that took away your dreams of happily-ever-after. Whatever those hurts may be, our minds often meander into wondering who we would have been or how things would have turned out if certain seasons had been different.
While Jesus walked on earth, He and His companions weren’t immune to disappointment and heartache. Mary and Martha, dear friends of Jesus, alerted Him that their brother Lazarus was sick to the point of death. Despite the fact that He could have made it to their home in time to heal their brother, Jesus remained where He was. Finally, four days after Lazarus’s death, Jesus arrived. Mary and Martha told Jesus that if He come earlier their brother would not have died. And then Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, a miracle that led many to believe in Him as the true Son of God.
Nothing is beyond the redeeming reach of Jesus. Our sorrows are never too great for God to find His glory in them. Though our stories are imperfect, they testify to God’s remarkable supremacy to resurrect that which was broken and dead for His glory.
While we may not sense it amidst suffering, the experiences written on the pages of our lives are not random. Each season influences the next, shaping us in different ways because we have known those sorrows.