God’s Delays

Posted on March 7, 2026 by Janet

(I’ve been writing a lot on the Gospel of John lately. I felt like I should share today’s thoughts on the account of Lazarus’s death:)

Good morning! Let’s read John 11:1-16 today!

“So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,”
‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Being sick is a horrible thing. Especially a major illness. In sickness, there is pain and discomfort. Jesus heard His friend, the one He loved, was sick. BUT Jesus delayed going to His friend for two days…

I have been thinking this morning about God’s delays. Jesus knew all things. He was and He is God. He also knew the end of Lazarus’s story, “…This sickness will not END in death. No, it is for God’s Glory…” God always had a plan. Jesus’s delay was a part of it.

In the book of Isaiah God tells us something that is very important to consider:

““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus knew the reason that Lazarus had to SUFFER and DIE. He knew that He would raise Lazarus from the dead in order to display the glory of God to the people. It was an opportunity for Him to make Himself known in a way the people had not known Him as before. “I am the resurrection and the life.” (Verse 25) Jesus was going to display HIs power over death itself.

There are circumstances of life that we simply will not understand. Sometimes it seems that God is delaying doing what is best for us. We suffer. BUT God wants us to know that His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways either. What we think is best may not be what is the best in His Heavenly perspective. We must trust in Him!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Is there a circumstance in my life that I am suffering in? Am I trying to make sense out of it? Does it feel like Jesus has delayed?
Can I believe and trust that Jesus is always working in every circumstance for my good? (Romans 8:28)

The Romans Challenge: Rejoice in Hope

Posted on July 10, 2025 by Janet

“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Today we start Romans 5!

Hope is the confident expectation of good.

Glory is the sum of all God’s characteristics. It is all of His perfections or excellence.

When we come to know God for who He is and all of His greatness, we know that we will experience good from Him. No matter what our circumstances are we know God is at work for our good. This is because He is completely good and He is completely love. All this love and goodness is poured out upon us.

When life is hard, we have reason to rejoice! Because whatever hardship that God has allowed into our lives is working in us perseverance, character, and hope. More than all of this, we will experience God’s love, which is defined as His will to good for us!

When we trust God in impossible circumstances, we will find out that He is faithful! He never leaves us or abandons us. Each and every circumstance will deepen our understanding of God and grow our relationship with Him, if we will determine that our eyes will be fixed on Him.

We will “rejoice in hope!” We have hope that He is working here and now on our behalf. Romans 8:28 says He is working all things for our good.

We also have hope that when all is said and done, we will experience the ultimate good, eternity with Him!

Rejoice! No matter what God is for us!

James — Consider It Pure Joy

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Janet

(Join me in reading chapter 1 of James each day this week)

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Nothing is wasted in our lives. Trials and testing of our faith helps us to mature. In fact, it is what God uses to make us “complete, not lacking anything.”

Perseverance in the Greek is defined as “Endurance, steadfastness, patient waiting for, cheerful endurance, constancy.”

My youngest son has spent quite a bit of time at the gym working on body building. He has told me that building muscle actually requires tearing of muscle fibers that is rebuilt by our bodies in a stronger form. Our spiritual muscles are similar. Testing of our faith through trials can produce a cheerful endurance because we know the end result will be a closer relationship with Jesus.

If you are going through a trial, God is always at work in it! You and I are meant to “consider it pure joy!” In the end our relationship with God will be stronger! Trials build “spiritual muscle” that we all need in order to “not {be} lacking anything.”

“Consider it Pure Joy” — Devotion written for WOW ministry.

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Janet

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

James 1:2-3 NIV

“Trials.” In the past, this word would set off anxious feelings within me. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been a big fan of trials or adversity of any kind. However, they seem to be rather abundant. Recently, I found myself in a trial that was putting my faith in God to the test. Typically, my reaction to a trial is to run and hide; but this time was different. When I heard the foreboding words of trouble ahead it occurred to me that I had a choice to make. The choice was to respond in fear and anxiety or to stand firm in the faith. In fact, I heard God speak these words, “Janet, are you going to trust Me or not?” It was at that moment I prayed this prayer, “I am going to believe in You, God. I will trust You with all my heart. I will walk in faith.” Suddenly, everything changed inside of me. Peace came. As I continued to walk in faith through the situation, God revealed Himself once again to be faithful, sovereign or in control, loving, good, and trustworthy.

I have been experiencing the truth of our verses this week, “the testing of your faith produces perseverance (steadfastness).”

Our verses this month have focused on the word “steadfast.” The definition of steadfast is to have firmness of mind or purpose, to be constant in pursuing a purpose, unwavering, fixed, and steady. We are told in our verses this week that we are to “Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds…” To have joy in the midst of trials/adversity sounds totally ridiculous and impossible, doesn’t it? James is not telling us that joy is in the difficult circumstances/situations themselves. He is saying that true joy comes because we know that the testing of our faith produces in us steadfastness/perseverance.

When we come up against a trial, we come to a choice. We can depend on God and allow Him to use the trial to deepen our relationship and strengthen our perseverance; or we can allow the enemy to use the trial to bring division, isolation, and separation. We can run to God and experience His abundant life like peace, righteousness, love, and joy, or we can run from God and experience death, darkness, and destruction. What we encounter in the things that are hard to walk through are the very things that teach us more and more of who God is.

Had I not experienced situations that could be fearful and believed in God, I would not know that He is my peace. Had I not experienced situations of uncertainty and leaned on God, I would not know that God is faithful and trustworthy. Had I not experienced situations that could bring sadness and sorrow and cry out to God, I would not know God is my comfort, joy, and strength. These “light and momentary troubles” (2 Corinthians 4:17) are opportunities for us to know our God better and to “stand firm in the faith.” As we persevere in faith we “become complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4). We become more and more like Jesus, and that is a cause for “pure joy!”

As I write these words, these questions come to my heart, “Why have I been a runner when trouble comes?” “Why have I wanted to hide?” Perhaps you are wondering the same things too? God commands us to be “steadfast” and “unmovable” (1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV). From now on I will not cower to fear, uncertainty, and unbelief and run! From now on I choose to be steadfast and immovable in my faith! What about you?

This week’s song is “In Christ Alone” by Passion Kristian Stanfill. May it be a reminder to us when trials come our way that we can be steadfast standing in the power and love of Christ.

Click here for song:

https://youtu.be/PGKJ2JHT9dw?si=xTiibTKa6ym53F5o

Love,

Janet Nelson, Devoted and Determined

https://www.wowjcmo.com/

https://mailchi.mp/wowjcmo/wow-devotion-john-6226957?e=6c56f70e45