This is what it means to 


endure things in life


 patiently. It is to not grow 


weary. It is to avoid 


getting tired. "And let 


us not grow weary in


 doing good; because if


we do not waver, we 


shall reap in due season."


Galatians 6:9. 

We get an abundance of God's benefits when


 we patiently endure. We become whole and


 complete, lacking nothing, according to 


James 1:4.

John 11:6-7


As the news reached Jesus, He already


 knew that Lazarus needed to be healed. 


Yet, God was allowing illness for two 


reasons: the advancement and completion 


of the Father's purpose and His glorification, 


as well as the glorifying of Jesus Himself. 


He tells His disciples that the sickness 


would not ultimately result in death.



His friends must have been perplexed by 


His delay in leaving for Bethany, especially


 since He permitted it to result in death. But, 


the concerned sisters were to discover that 


God's delays are not denials. Sometimes


 it takes enduring hardship to develop 


character. (8: Hebrews 5)



Jesus loved Mary and Martha, therefore 


Mary and Martha were confident He would


 arrive. They had to understand that His 


delay was being done out of genuine love, 


not because He was ignoring them. It must 


have been very difficult for Jesus to upset 


Mary and Martha, but He did it to


demonstrate to them—and to us—that, 


despite our desire to support our friends 


and our ability to do so, we must be led


 by the Power of God to put His glory 


and our spiritual well being above our


 own emotions.



Time indicates that God is preparing us


 rather than denying us. God is patiently 


waiting for us to grow so that we don't 


forfeit our blessings.