So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away; and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them about their brother. So then Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed in the house. Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus *said to her, “Your brother will rise from the dead.” Martha *said to Him, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, and He who comes into the world.” John 11:17-27

It’s sometimes easier to think of God as someone who works on a time table of eventually. Eventually, I’ll go to Heaven. Eventually, God will open up a path. Eventually, I’ll be allowed to ask for what I want.

Jesus never operated that way. When Martha talked with Jesus about her brother, she said she knew that he would eventually rise again but Jesus corrected her and said that he would rise immediately. God is still capable of granting us our requests in our lives today, and we should give Him credit for every yes!

So the next time you pray, don’t ask for things eventually, but pray that God will do what is best for you right now and right here. Have faith in a God that works immediately!

Ethan Kirl

Originally Published December 7, 2020