How We Grow: Pivotal Circumstances
"So then he told them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’” John 11:14-15 (NIV)
Pain and suffering often make us question God. If He loves us, why doesn’t He step in and stop the hardship? In John 11, Jesus hears that His friend Lazarus is sick, yet He delays going to him. By the time Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead for four days. To Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters, this must have felt like betrayal. They had seen Jesus heal strangers—surely He would have come for His friend. Surely He wouldn’t let them suffer like this.
But Jesus had a bigger plan. His goal was never just to heal Lazarus—it was to reveal His power over death itself. He makes a shocking statement to His disciples: "For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe." Jesus allowed this painful situation because He knew it would lead to deeper faith.
That’s hard to accept when we’re in the middle of suffering. We want relief. We want answers. But what if the very thing we’re asking God to remove is the thing He’s using to grow our trust in Him? What if our hardest seasons are actually pivotal moments where God is shaping us?
Think about your own life. Have you ever looked back on a painful season and realized that, even in the struggle, God was moving? Maybe it was an unexpected loss, a season of loneliness, or a time when everything seemed to fall apart. At the moment, it felt unbearable. But looking back, you can see how God carried you through it. Maybe He deepened your dependence on Him. Maybe He brought people into your life you wouldn’t have met otherwise. Maybe He even used your suffering to help someone else.
Jesus doesn’t promise us a life without hardship, but He does promise to be with us in it. The question is: will we lean into Him or pull away when things get hard?
Martha gives us a powerful example of what it looks like to trust God in the middle of pain. When she meets Jesus after Lazarus' death, she says: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” (John 11:21-22, NIV). She is honest about her disappointment—yet she still clings to faith. She doesn’t understand why this happened, but she trusts Jesus anyway.
This is what real faith looks like. It’s not pretending everything is fine. It’s not ignoring the pain. It’s bringing our grief, our anger, and our questions to Jesus—while still choosing to trust that He is good.
We often think faith means avoiding hardship, but in reality, faith is formed through hardship. The moments when life falls apart are the moments that refine us. They force us to decide: will I turn away from God, or will I lean in and trust that He is still at work?
God wants a big faith for you. And sometimes, He allows difficult circumstances because He knows they will push you to rely on Him in a way you never have before.
The truth is, God isn’t doing something to you—He’s doing something in you and for you.
So, whatever season you’re walking through, ask yourself: Will I let this be the thing that pulls me away from God? Or will I let it be the thing that draws me closer?
Questions for Reflection:
Think of a time when you faced a difficult situation. Looking back, can you see how God used it to shape your faith?
How do you typically respond when life feels unfair—do you lean into God or pull away?
Martha was honest with Jesus about her pain but still declared her trust in Him (John 11:21-22). How can you practice both honesty and faith in your own struggles?
Who in your life helps you stay connected to God during tough times?
Prayer:
Father, I don’t always understand why hard things happen, but I want to trust You. Help me to lean into You, even when I feel lost or frustrated. Grow my faith through this season. Surround me with people who will remind me of Your goodness. And when I look back, let me see how You were working all along. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Going Deeper: Additional Resources for Study
Meditate: Psalm 88 – A raw, honest prayer about suffering that doesn’t resolve neatly but still turns to God.
Watch: Don't Waste Your Sorrows - Psalm 126 Meditation by Tim Keller
Read: A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser – A powerful book on how loss and suffering can deepen our faith.