In my current situation here at MCI-H, I have had moments
of joy and complete despair. In my life, “failure has been a
common friend”, but through it all I am constantly reminded that I
have a “friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
The comfort I’ve been given by giving my life to Christ has
allowed the Scriptures to come to life in my incarceration and a
true meaning of patience and hope. I know that to many my
situation seems grave, but I know that out of the grave, that He
will call me forth. I look at the Scripture in John 11:43 (New
American Standard Bible) which says, “And when He had said
these things, He cried out with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.”
I’ve learned that many things sound strange to the world
for those who do not believe, but it is strange to say that when
Jesus loves you, He will allow you to die. Jesus loved Lazarus and
chose him to be a partaker of the Glory that was to be seen.
When Jesus heard his friend whom He loved was sick, He stayed
in Jerusalem two more days. Why? Because Jesus never rushes
to keep something from happening in our lives that will ultimately
bring Glory to His Name. Yet, when things happen in our lives and
it appears as though Jesus lingers before He comes to see about
us, we panic. Why? Because we are quick to analyze His delay
without having the adequate and accurate knowledge for why He
does what He does. Many times He chooses to delay the outcome,
simply because He wants those around us to know that He
still works miracles. We can never give up on Him. Without a
doubt He will not leave anyone in the grave any longer than it will
take for their body to stink!
Jesus stayed yet two more days, because His disciples
needed to see firsthand the power that He possessed over death
and the grave.
