The Power of Childlike Faith

Martha and Mary had two very different personalities and outlooks on life. Martha worried and Mary rested. When their brother Lazarus died, it took a few days for the Lord to finally arrive at his tomb. When He arrived, He called Lazarus back to life. 

The two very different responses of the sisters to the tragedy were revealed. “When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him. But Mary stayed in the house” (John 11:20). When Martha met Jesus, she expressed her frustration, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died” (vs.21).  Martha saw the finality of death and was frustrated. Mary remained home, putting her hope in Jesus.

When Lazarus came out of the tomb walking toward the voice of the One who called him back to life, and after his graveclothes were removed, Scripture tells us, “Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen” (vs. 45). There was a reason Mary’s name, not Martha’s was mentioned. Mary’s faith spurred belief in unbelieving people.

A crowd was present to console Martha and Mary. They would have watched how the two sisters responded to the death of their brother. In the normal seasons of life, Martha’s concerns and her measured response to life would have been seen as reasonable and mature. In a time of death when no natural hope was present to change the outcome, it would be Mary’s response of rest that would gain the attention of the onlookers. Because of Mary’s resting faith, “Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus.” 

When life becomes impossible and death in any form seems to have the final word, it will not be a practical Martha-like response to pain and sorrow that will draw the attention of unbelieving hearts. It will be our ability to rest and place our trust in the Lord when all hope seems to have vanished. When that kind of faith and trust is seen, it will gather a following as it did in Mary’s case. Keeping company with people whose faith in Jesus is childlike will lead us to deeper levels of trust and greater heights of hope, no matter how final a painful situation might appear.

This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Garris Elkins

Featured Image by Fr. Daniel Ciucci on Unsplash

About the Author

Garris Elkins is a Kingdom Winds Contributor. He and his wife, Jan, serve the global Church through writing, speaking, and mentoring. They live in southern Oregon, tucked away in the foothills of the Rogue Valley. Their shared desire is to have each person learn how to hear the heart of God and become a transforming voice in their culture.

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