The Book of John

Below is a devotional from John Chapter 11 I wrote while I was in school. Enjoy!

The Muck

I don’t like rock climbing. The first time I went, I scurried up the rock; following the directions I had been given. However, about half way up, I froze. I couldn’t go up or down. People at the top and the bottom were reminding me what I had been instructed while still on the ground.

It is always so much easier to have faith in something before we are in the muck of it. And it is certainly easier to have faith in Jesus till it’s time to rely on that faith.

In John 11: 39, 40 we read about Jesus reminding Martha of the faith she claims to have. The passage reads, “Jesus said, ‘Remove the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, ‘Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not say to you, if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’”

Earlier that same day, Martha affirmed that Jesus could have kept Lazarus from dying. Why is she now questioning what He is capable of? She doubts because she is in the muck of it. This is not a reflection of disbelief or denial of who Jesus is. Rather, it is a moment of truth. It’s Martha’s faith in action. She is on the side of the rock frozen. Jesus calls to her from the top, “Martha, remember what I said, trust me and keep climbing.” Martha now has to move forward in faith. And she does. Verse 41 says, “And so they removed the stone.” (Although it does not say Martha gave the order to do so, given her position in the family, it would not have happened without her permission).

The above reference to my rock climbing experience was not my last attempt. Each time I tried I made it to the top but often through tears and a lot of coaching and encouragement. The task would be so much easier if I could just remember the instructions I received before I began and put it into action when I am on the rock!

When I am on the rock or in the muck of life I freeze not because I forget what the Lord has told me, but rather because I stop believing what I know He is capable of.

Which of God’s promises leads you to question His ability to fulfill it? What’s the muck in your life that causes you to stop believing what He can do?