"When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, Lord, my brother would not have died!"

(John 11.20-21 GNB)

If I were Martha, I might have said this. "Lord, you know everything. You knew my brother was gravely ill.

You could have said the word and healed my brother from afar. Like you healed the servant of a Roman Centurion. (Luke 7.1-10) But you did not.

You could have come here before my brother died to touch him and heal him. Like you healed Peter's mom-in-law. (Matthew 8.14-15) But you did not.

You could have come here during my brother's funeral procession to raise him. Like you raised the dead son of a widow in Nain. (Luke 7.11-15) But you did not.

You delivered for those people Lord. But for me, you did not.

It is not fair!"

But Jesus knew: “The final result of this illness will not be the death of Lazarus; this has happened in order to bring glory to God, and it will be the means by which the Son of God will receive glory.” (John 11.4 GNB)

I understand that not all cases end up like Lazarus' story. In some cases, I may not see God's deliverance yet or may not even in my lifetime.

Oh but to be used by Jesus "to bring glory to God" - what an honour!

Having said that, I very much prefer a lot less drama in my life, Lord. You know this. "Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done".

See: Fairness (2)