Devotion Booklets for Seasons of the Church Year Lent 2018 | Page 20

Expectations of Life and Death
Thursday, March 1st
John 11:21-22
To have an expectation means to have a strong belief that something you want to happen will happen.
Many times our greatest expectations revolve around life and death. “I will easily live into my nineties,
as long as I have a healthy and structured diet.” Or, “I’m as fit as a fiddle, death is a long way off for
me.” We all know that none of us can escape death. Yet, we live expecting to live as long as humanly
possible simply because we think we are living the right way. On what do your expectations of life and
death rely? Is it on yourself, that as long as you take the necessary steps you hold the key to a long and
happy life? Or do your expectations rely on God, trusting that your time of grace is in his hands?
Martha knew the power of Jesus. She knew that he could stop her brother Lazarus from dying. What’s
more, even though her brother was dead, she knew Jesus had the power to raise him back to life if he
chose to do so. Martha had zero expectations in herself! Death had already come for her brother, and
she realized how powerless she was to do anything for him. She placed all her expectations on Jesus.
She believed she would witness the glory of God; the raising of her brother Lazarus.
Sometimes we are forced to give up all expectations of ourselves just as Martha was. The doctor
diagnoses you with cancer, revealing the weakness of your cells. You’re in a tragic car accident,
paralyzing you from the waist down, revealing the weakness of your body. Where do we turn? By
giving up expectations in "self" and turning to Jesus, we find the only place of comfort there is—Jesus.
We begin to lay our expectations on him, because he holds the power of life and death. Martha
received comfort from her Savior. He promised that he is the resurrection and the life. He gives us that
same comfort throughout our lives. Our expectation, our belief that we too will be raised from the dead
relies solely on our Savior. He alone has the power to make that expectation a reality.
Prayer: O Lord, forgive us for the times we lay our expectations on ourselves instead of you.
Strengthen us through your Word that we trust in your power over life and death and give us comfort,
knowing that your power over life and death is what gives us life everlasting. Amen.
Activity: Name at least one expectation you have governing your life that you can give over to Jesus.
20