Today’s Daily Devotional for March 22, The God of the Restart, brings us to the edge of the tomb, not just Lazarus’s, but those places in our own lives where hope has quietly walked out the door and we’ve started looking for the “Exit” sign.
The God of the Restart – Daily Devotional for March 22
“Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.'” — John 11:39 (ESV)
Why the Delay?
When the sisters sent word that “the one you love is sick,” they were looking for a rescue. Instead, they got a delay. We’ve all been in that desert, praying for a situation to get better while watching it get objectively worse. We try to hold up the “crumbling walls” of our lives with our own strength, terrified of the moment they finally fall.
But here is a shift in perspective: God’s delay isn’t His departure. Sometimes, He lets a situation “die” because we are busy trying to restore something that actually needs a total restart. We want a patch; He wants a new beginning. He allows the end to happen so that a true “reboot” can take place.
“Roll Away the Stone”
Jesus could have moved the stone with a glance, yet He asked for human hands. This is a vital Lenten lesson: Grace requires your cooperation. To experience the miracle, you have to move the “stones” you’ve used to hide your mess.
What are these stones?
- Shame & Hidden Struggles. We think that if no one sees the “addiction” or the “failure,” we are safe. In reality, we are just trapped.
- Unforgiveness. This is a heavy stone that weighs us down more than the person we won’t forgive. It keeps us in the dark.
- Fruitless Habits. Relationships or jobs we cling to out of habit or fear of admitting we were wrong.
Jesus says, “I will do the miracle, but you have to open the door. You have to roll away the stone you’re hiding behind.”
He Isn’t Afraid of the Mess
Martha’s warning was incredibly practical: “Lord, he stinks.” We are often just like her. We are afraid of the truth. We are afraid that if we show God (or ourselves) the “filth” of our brokenness, even He will turn away.
But Jesus isn’t afraid of “stench.” He wants to enter exactly where you have stopped loving yourself. He wants to walk into the version of you that you like the least. Where you see a rotting tomb and a smell that won’t go away, He sees the perfect environment for a resurrection.
Devotional for every day: Daily Devotional
Prayer for Today
Lord, thank You for not being repelled by my mess. I’m tired of trying to hold up walls that are meant to fall. Today, I give you my “if onlys” and my “it’s too late.” Help me to roll away the stones of shame and unforgiveness that I’ve used to seal my heart. Enter into my darkest, smelliest places and speak life once again. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
To You
Identify one “stone” that you’ve been using to hide your true self. Today, “roll it away” by talking to a trusted friend or bringing it honestly to God in prayer. Don’t worry about the smell; He’s already there with the solution.
