faith and timing.

One day my roommate and I sat on beds across from each other in her bedroom. We talked about our time in college. We’d been there, done that… and we’d been doing it for awhile. So, the conversation turned into where our lives had gone, and where we had expected them to be at this point. Our predictions weren’t… spot on, shall we say.

We exclaimed, “Heavenly Father must laugh at us when He hears us muse about our plans for life. God must think ‘Not even close!’”

While it was humorous at the moment, I contemplated this a lot as the weeks went on.

There have been so many times when things just didn’t work out the way I thought that they would- be it for good or for bad. But if there is one thing that I have learned from the story of Lazarus it is this: In moments that are so disappointing and frustrating to us, the Savior certainly isn't laughing.

When direction in our lives is vague and everything is just downright heartbreaking, even when the Savior is fully aware of the outcome, He weeps with us. He rejoices with us when we are “Surprised by Joy” (as Lewis would say), and when he laughs it is with us- not at us. He empathizes perfectly, because His Atoning sacrifice allowed Him to feel exactly what we have felt and will ever feel. His love is perfect, and His Father’s plan for our lives- our eternal lives- is perfect. We just have to have the patience and faith to trust in His timing.