"Lord, ... if You had been here, my brother would not have died." John 11:21

One day the word was brought to Jesus that Lazarus was sick. Before He arrived, Lazarus died. When Jesus finally came, the sisters chided Him: "Lord, ... if You had been here, (our) brother would not have died." IF! The sisters were trying to change what happened to what might have happened. In the wise providence of God it was according to His will that Lazarus died. It was also His will that he should be raised by Jesus from the dead.

We, too, are tempted to say: "If this would not have happened" or, "If I had not done this," thinking that everything would have been changed. Instead of looking only at what happened or only at what we did or left undone, we should try to see what purpose God may have had in mind.

Again, we so often torment ourselves with sins of the past: "If I hadn't done that." Whatever we may have done, as long as there is sincere repentance in our heart, we know there is cleansing in the blood of Christ. So let's not try to reconstruct our lives upon an IF. Rather, let us place our trust in Christ, believing that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" (Romans 8:28).

PRAYER: Lord, give us faith, that in everything we trust in Your will for our lives. Amen.

(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996 (out of print), Concordia Publishing House. For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)

Today's Bible Readings: Hosea 12-14    Romans 16

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