Sometimes your church can seem a lot like a waiting room. 

You’re waiting for the next stage of growth in your church. You’re waiting for a new permanent meeting location or a new addition to your current building. Or maybe you’re waiting for the specific ministry role you believe God has called you to take. 

Regardless of what you’re waiting for, you have a choice. You can trust God or you can panic. But you also need to remember two things: One, God is never in a hurry. And two, God is never late. God’s timing is always perfect. 

What happens in those times when it appears that God is late? 

God is getting you ready for a miracle! 

There are so many examples of this in Scripture, including the story of Lazarus (John 11). Mary and Martha had a brother named Lazarus, who was one of Jesus’ best friends. 

Lazarus and his sisters lived in Bethany, which was just a few miles from where Jesus was on the day Lazarus got sick. They sent word to Jesus that his friend was gravely ill and asked him to come to them. 

Jesus could have easily been in Bethany in an hour or two. But it took him three days to go about five miles. When he got there, Mary and Martha told him, “You’re too late! We’ve already buried Lazarus.” 

But Jesus wasn’t late. He already knew what he was going to do. His goal was not to heal Lazarus. His goal was to raise him from the dead. Jesus’ goal was not to just make Lazarus well. His goal was to do a miracle of astronomical proportions. 

Jesus walked up to Lazarus’ tomb, told them to roll the stone away, and said, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43 NIV). And Lazarus did! 

Sometimes God lets a situation get so bad that only a miracle will do. Don’t give up your faith. Hold on. Keep praying and serving. Keep sowing. Keep believing. Because you’re getting ready for a miracle.

God already knows what he’s going to do in your life next month, next year, and in the next decade, and his plan for you is good.