I call him Lazarus. It might seem unusual to name a plant, but my orchid truly deserves this name. For the sake of full disclosure, I’ve never been great at taking care of plants. I’m rotten at it actually. Most of the time, plants don’t last long under my care. When I began my new appointment this year, I found a beautiful orchid on my desk as a welcoming gift. I was overjoyed at its beauty, but deep down, I had reservations. I knew it wouldn’t be long before the delicate flowers faded, the leaves turned that ominous shade of brown, and it joined the ranks of my previous plant casualties. Dead. Gone. Finished.
True to my expectations, despite my earnest efforts to nurture the orchid, it eventually withered away. No signs of life. No hope of revival. I’m not one to give in to defeat easily though. So I relocated the plant to a different spot in my office and continued to care for it. My husband, well aware of my not-so-green thumb, shared a knowing smile. He saw what I saw – another plant on its deathbed.
Then, not too long ago, while diligently following my watering routine, I noticed a hint of green! I had to rub my eyes in disbelief. Could it be? Indeed, there it was, a sign of life. Excitement and hope soared within me. Maybe, just maybe, I had turned over a new leaf, and this orchid would be the first to survive my care. As the days passed, little buds began to appear, and that’s when I affectionately named my orchid “Lazarus.” It had been dead, and yet it was coming back to life.
Yet underneath … past the surface … deep within the potential for life is there!
My orchid’s unexpected resurrection compelled me to stop and ponder. How often do we prematurely dismiss situations, circumstances, relationships, and even people as lost, irreparable, beyond hope? On the surface, there may be no indication of a possibility for healing, restoration, or renewal. Yet underneath … past the surface … deep within the potential for life is there!
The story of Lazarus, found in the book of John, chapter 11, beautifully illustrates God’s incredible power to resurrect. We know that His power extends not only to the physically dead but also to those who are spiritually and emotionally broken. To those who appear beyond help or hope. Just as Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb, He can breathe new life into the most shattered souls, mend the most fractured families, and heal the most wounded individuals. In times of despair and hopelessness, this narrative serves as a powerful reminder that God’s ability to resurrect and restore supersedes the limitations of the physical world.
allow God into the parts of our lives that need His touch the most, seeking His power in what seems like hopeless places…
The story of Lazarus invites us to reflect on our own lives and the hopelessness or brokenness we may carry within. Perhaps it is buried deeply and others aren’t aware it exists. You try to forget that it is even there. The Biblical story of Lazarus encourages us to allow God into the parts of our lives that need His touch the most, seeking His power in what seems like hopeless places, whether in our families, our own hearts, or our relationships. Just as Lazarus’ resurrection required faith, a stone being rolled away, and Jesus being given the freedom to speak into those hurting spaces so our journey to restoration does too. It’s a call to believe in the possibility of healing and to actively seek God’s intervention in our struggles. As we entrust our brokenness to the One who specializes in bringing new life to the most wounded and shattered places in our existence, we can find comfort, strength, and a renewed sense of purpose. And signs of life will be seen once again … just like with my Lazarus!