Why does God wait when we plead for His swift response?

When Jesus' good friend Lazarus lay desperately ill, He was told about it by Lazarus' two sisters. They must have hoped He would come immediately. But in John 11:5-6 we read, "Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was." While Jesus lingered, Lazarus died.

At times it is very difficult for us to reconcile God's perfect love with His perfect timing. We may struggle to understand why He would delay when His intervention could save those we love. Like Martha and Mary, we tell Jesus, in effect, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (vv.21,32).

No one involved in this situation could imagine the miracle Jesus would perform. Nor could they fathom what He wanted to teach them—that He is "the resurrection and the life" for all who believe (v.25).

We may never fully understand why God waits when we plead with Him to act swiftly. But when the mystery of His timing remains hidden, we can cling to the certainty of His matchless wisdom and His unfailing love.  — David C. McCasland