What do fast food, ATMs, and even AI-generated sermons have in common? They’ve trained us to expect everything instantly and made waiting feel almost unbearable. But what if waiting isn’t a waste, but the very place where God does some of His deepest work?

This message explores the story of Lazarus in John 11 and wrestles with a difficult question. Why would Jesus delay when people we love are hurting? Through honest tension, relatable examples, and the raw cry of Psalm 13, “How long, O Lord?”, we’re invited to see waiting not as God’s absence, but as His purpose.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, forgotten, or close to giving up, this message will encourage you to trust that even in the silence, God is working in ways you cannot yet see, and that what’s coming may be greater than anything you’ve asked for.

Group Discussion Questions

1. In John 11:1–16, what stands out to you about Jesus’ response to Lazarus’ sickness? How does His decision to wait challenge your expectations of how God should act?

2. The message highlights how our culture has conditioned us to avoid waiting. Where do you see impatience show up most in your own life, and how might that shape the way you relate to God?

3. Psalm 13 gives language to the question, “How long, O Lord?” What is something in your life right now that feels like a season of waiting? What emotions or doubts have surfaced for you in that space?

4. David moves from questioning to trusting in God’s unfailing love. What would it look like for you to intentionally choose trust in your current situation? What truths about God do you need to remind yourself of?

5. The sermon challenges us to respond with trust and praise in the waiting. What is one practical habit you can begin this week (such as prayer, worship, journaling, or sharing with others) that will help you stay grounded in faith while you wait?