Walking with Jesus
"If the LORD delights in a person's way, He makes their steps firm; though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD upholds them with His hand." (Psalm 37:23,24)
Walking with Jesus

The Grand Narrative: “Jesus’ Delay?” (John 11:1-22)

“Jesus’ Delay?” (John 11:1-22)

Published 5 March 2026

🔎 DAILY HEART EXAMINATION

Let the Word steady your future and clarify your purpose.

  1. 1️⃣ What does this passage reveal about Jesus’ control over my future?
  2. 2️⃣ Where am I allowing fear to override trust in Him?
  3. 3️⃣ What purpose is Christ calling me to live out today?
  4. 4️⃣ What specific step will I take today because He is Lord of my future?

 Scroll down for “Lessons Learned…”

💥 SINS / FAILURES

Where this passage exposes what can go wrong in our hearts and responses.

  1. 1️⃣ Assuming God is late when He does not act on our schedule. (John 11:6, John 11:21, John 11:32)
  2. 2️⃣ Equating pain with lack of love—treating suffering as proof of rejection. (John 11:3, John 11:5-6, John 11:14)
  3. 3️⃣ Settling into resignation—stopping prayer because we think the outcome is fixed. (John 11:21-22, John 11:25-26, Phil 1:12-14)
  4. 4️⃣ Misreading God’s purposes—missing glory because we only see loss. (John 11:4, John 11:15, John 9:3)
  5. 5️⃣ Spreading confusion instead of faith—letting uncertainty dominate conversations. (John 11:11-13, John 11:16, John 11:37)

🏆 SUCCESSES / SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Where faith grows stronger through delay, difficulty, and hard truths.

  1. 1️⃣ Trusting Jesus’ stated purpose—believing God can be glorified through suffering. (John 11:4, John 11:40, John 9:3)
  2. 2️⃣ Holding “even now” faith—bringing hope to Jesus when everything looks finished. (John 11:22, John 11:25, John 11:27)
  3. 3️⃣ Letting delay deepen belief—receiving faith-strengthening clarity over time. (John 11:6, John 11:14-15, John 10:40-42)
  4. 4️⃣ Following Jesus forward—moving toward hard places because He leads. (John 11:7, John 11:15, John 11:16)
  5. 5️⃣ Seeing gospel-advance in adversity—recognizing God can leverage hardship for witness. (Phil 1:12-14, John 11:4, John 11:45)

🧭 LEADERSHIP DYNAMICS

How Jesus leads, teaches, and forms people under pressure and confusion.

  1. 1️⃣ Leads with clarity, not impulse—He acts intentionally, not reactively. (John 11:6, John 11:11, John 11:15)
  2. 2️⃣ Names reality plainly—He does not soften truth to manage emotions. (John 11:14, John 11:11-13, John 11:23)
  3. 3️⃣ Forms faith through tension—He uses confusion as a classroom for belief. (John 11:15, John 11:25-26, John 10:41-42)
  4. 4️⃣ Moves toward the crisis—He doesn’t avoid risk when obedience calls. (John 11:7-8, John 11:15-16, John 11:54)
  5. 5️⃣ Reframes suffering as mission—hard circumstances can serve God’s larger purposes. (John 11:4, John 9:3, Phil 1:12-14)