The first thing God does is get us grounded on strong reality and truth. He does this until our cares for ourselves individually have been brought into submission to His way for the purpose of His redemption. Why shouldn’t we experience heartbreak? Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son. Most of us collapse at the first grip of pain. We sit down at the door of God’s purpose and enter a slow death through self-pity. And all the so-called Christian sympathy of others helps us to our deathbed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, as if to say, “Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine.” If God can accomplish His purposes in this world through a broken heart, then why not thank Him for breaking yours?” The universal Prayer in times of pain: “Why did you delay? Do you not care about us?” Read also from 885, Modern affirmation. vs. 35 “Jesus Wept.” (describe context) Was he weeping because Lazarus died? He does not seem that personally worried about it. Could it be that he weeps because of the tizzy Mary is in? Because of the lack of faith of his closest friends? Vs. 21, 32 both Martha, then Mary say same thing: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Accusation: You don’t know what you are doing, Jesus! You could have saved him through healing, before he died. We have seen you heal people. We know you are capable of it. But you were not here. It is too late! You could have done great things, but you were not here. You could have restored him to perfect health. But you were not here. See vs. 37: “couldn’t this healer of the blind have prevented the death of Lazarus?” You’re too late! Too little too late!

Lucius Annaeus Seneca (C. 4 B.C.-A.D. 65) As the mother's womb holds us for nine months, making us ready, not for the womb itself, but for life, just so, through our lives, we are making ourselves ready for another birth.... Therefore, look forward without fear to that appointed hour-the last hour of the body, but not of the soul.... That day, which you fear as being the end of all things, is the birthday of your eternity. Jesus weeps, not because of grief of loss of Lazarus, but because of the lack of faith of Mary. And Martha. And you. And me. “Oh ye of little faith.” So you have lost a loved one; where was Jesus then? So you have gone through pain and suffering; where was Jesus then? Vs. 40: “Did I not tell you that if you would believe….” Faith goes beyond what you can see, what makes sense, and what you think God should be doing! Mary, you sat at my feet when Martha busied herself in the kitchen. Mary, you hung on my every word. Mary, you of all people believed I am the Son of God. Why now do you doubt? Why indeed? Because all seems lost to her and Jesus was not there to help. Ever feel like that? All our finite eyes could tell us Was the sadness and the gloom, All the emptiness and silence Of the sorrow-striken room;