“When Jesus heard that Lazarus was dying, he waited to leave because he wanted to do something more glorious,” says 11-year-old Josie.

God may delay, but he is never late. Lazarus’ death serves as an excellent example of God’s delay in increasing his glory.

Would God have been glorified if Jesus had healed Lazarus before he died? Absolutely! What Lazarus’ sisters (Mary and Martha) could not foresee is how the death of his brother could bring greater glory to God.

Both Martha and Mary said the same thing when they saw Jesus: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21 and 32).

Both sisters knew that Jesus could heal, but the Lord wanted to take them to a place of greater faith and glory. The lesson that Jesus taught with his delay is so clear in his conversation with Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. And he who lives and believes in me will never die.” “. . Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

What brings more glory to God? Cure Lazarus before he died or raise him from the grave? The comparison is not even close. Imparting life to a corpse far outweighs all healing miracles. Only God can raise the dead!

“It’s all part of God’s test to see if we have faith and believe in him,” says 11-year-old Kaiden.

God sometimes tests Christians so that their faith in him will grow. He wants us to pass the test so he can show us more of himself. God tests, but he will never tempt us to sin. Yes, the devil tempts as he tempted Jesus in the desert to act independently of his Father (Lk 4,1-13).

“God is late because we ask him for the wrong reasons,” says 11-year-old Mackenzie.

Our own lusts or selfish desires lead us into temptation. Many of God’s delays are simply unanswered prayers from immature Christians or carnal Christians who are filled with themselves instead of God’s Holy Spirit. It is an act of mercy when God refuses to answer these kinds of prayers.

Would you have survived childhood if your parents had given you everything you demanded or asked for? I doubt it.

Accepting God’s delays requires faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Live with the hope that one day you will see the Lord Jesus Christ face to face in the glory of his coming kingdom. Let that hope give you solid confidence that laughs at the false hope advertisers offer.

When God’s schedule differs from yours, believe that his grace and infinite wisdom know best. Even if you don’t understand or can’t see what he’s doing, he lets faith produce God-induced optimism in you. He does not sink into depression when circumstances thwart his plans. Fix your eyes on Jesus and trust him for what you cannot control.

Think about this: “There are flowers in my bed that only bloom in the spring. They all take a long time to bloom. Once they do, they are beautiful,” says 11-year-old Abby.

Memorize this truth: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Ask yourself these questions: Can you accept God’s delays as part of His providential plan for your life? When evil seems to triumph in your world, can you be sure that God will eventually right all wrongs?