Read John 11:17–23

During times of suffering we often struggle with the dread “If Only.” If only I had waited to get married? If only I’d have not allowed my son to go to that party? If only I had talked to her before she was in trouble? If only I had taken better care of myself? Such wonderings bring only more misery.

Consider this poignant scene from the life of Jesus:

When Jesus had arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give whatever you ask.”

Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” (John 11:17–23)

Martha viewed her brother’s sickness and death purely from an earthly perspective. She saw it through the lens of “if only.” We do that too when life takes us down paths of uncertainty and doubt. Yet what made the difference in Martha’s life? The presence of Jesus—the One who is, Himself, the resurrection and the life!

You may be right where Martha was following the death of her brother Lazarus. Trapped in the realm of what is impossible—feeling the finality of your situation and wondering to yourself, “If only.” The same is true for you as was true for Mary and Martha...and especially Lazarus. The answer to your need is a person—His name is Jesus. And with Him nothing is impossible. Nothing.

Devotional content taken from Good Morning, Lord...Can We Talk? by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2018. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries. All rights reserved.

The full devotional can be purchased at https://www.tyndale.com/p/good-morning-lord-can-we-talk/9781414380681.