This Problem Will Not End in Death: What Jesus’ Words to Lazarus Mean for Your Life | John 11.
By BILLIONAIRE PRIEST / August 26, 2026 / No Comments / BILLIONAIRE
When Your Situation Looks Hopeless, Remember Lazarus
Have you ever faced a situation that looked completely hopeless?
A financial crisis.
A broken relationship.
A business that is failing.
A dream that seems to have died.
A season of waiting that seems to have no end.
A problem that has become so overwhelming that you have started asking, “God, where are You?”
If you are facing something like this today, the story of Lazarus in John 11 carries a powerful message for you:
Your present situation does not necessarily determine your final outcome.
When Lazarus became seriously sick, his sisters, Mary and Martha, sent a message to Jesus:
“Lord, the one you love is sick.” — John 11:3
They knew Jesus loved Lazarus.
They knew Jesus had the power to help.
And yet, Jesus did something they probably did not understand.
He waited.
Jesus Heard the Problem
John 11:4 records Jesus’ response:
“This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
Think about the power of those words.
The circumstances looked like death.
But Jesus saw something beyond the circumstances.
The sisters saw sickness. Jesus saw an opportunity for God’s glory.
Lazarus’ family saw a crisis.
Jesus saw a testimony.
They saw the problem.
Jesus saw the purpose.
And that is where faith begins.
Your Problem Is Not the End of Your Story
Perhaps you are currently looking at your own situation and thinking:
“This is the end.”
But what if it isn’t?
What if the season you are experiencing is not the conclusion of your story?
What if God can use the very situation that is causing you pain to reveal His power, strengthen your faith, develop your character, and ultimately become a testimony of His faithfulness?
The lesson from Lazarus is not that every difficult situation will unfold exactly the way we expect.
The deeper lesson is this:
God can be glorified even in circumstances that we cannot understand.
Lazarus’ story proves that what looks like an ending to us can become the stage for something greater in God’s hands.
Why Did Jesus Wait?
One of the most challenging parts of this story is that Jesus did not immediately rush to Bethany.
John 11:5–6 says:
“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.”
This is remarkable.
Jesus loved them—and He waited.
Sometimes we assume that if God loves us, He must immediately remove every problem.
But Lazarus teaches us something deeper.
God’s delay is not necessarily God’s absence.
You may be waiting right now.
Waiting for an opportunity.
Waiting for financial breakthrough.
Waiting for restoration.
Waiting for an answer.
Waiting for a door to open.
Waiting for a dream to come alive again.
And the silence can be painful.
But remember Lazarus.
Jesus knew what was happening.
Jesus loved them.
And Jesus had not abandoned them.
Don’t Confuse Delay With Denial
This is one of the most important lessons you can take from John 11.
Mary and Martha probably wanted Jesus to arrive immediately.
But Jesus’ timing was different from theirs.
The delay did not mean the story was over.
In fact, the delay became part of the testimony.
Sometimes you may be praying:
“God, why hasn’t this changed yet?”
But faith says:
“Even though I don’t understand the timing, I still trust God.”
Faith does not mean pretending that the problem doesn’t exist.
Faith means refusing to believe that the problem has the final word.
What If Your Problem Becomes Your Testimony?
Imagine Lazarus’ story without the crisis.
There would be no dramatic demonstration of resurrection power.
The sickness became part of the testimony.
The waiting became part of the testimony.
The tears became part of the testimony.
The impossible situation became part of the testimony.
And eventually, what looked like a devastating ending became an extraordinary demonstration of God’s glory.
Your current struggle may also become part of a story that encourages someone else.
The financial lesson you learn during a difficult season may eventually help another family.
The discipline you develop during hardship may prepare you for a future opportunity.
The wisdom you gain through disappointment may prevent someone else from making the same mistake.
The faith you develop while waiting may become the foundation for the next chapter of your life.
Have Faith When You Cannot See the Outcome
Faith is easy when everything is going well.
It is much harder when the evidence appears to be moving in the opposite direction.
That is why the story of Lazarus is so powerful.
The family knew Lazarus was sick.
They knew Jesus had not arrived immediately.
Eventually, Lazarus died.
From their perspective, the situation had gone beyond repair.
But Jesus was not finished.
This is why you must be careful about declaring your situation finished simply because you cannot see a solution.
You only see the present chapter. God sees the entire story.
Your Financial Problem Is Not Bigger Than God
Perhaps your struggle is financial.
Maybe you are facing debt.
Maybe your business is struggling.
Maybe you lost an opportunity.
Maybe you invested in something that failed.
Maybe you are starting over.
Do not allow financial circumstances to convince you that your future is finished.
Instead, use the season to develop wisdom.
Learn.
Work.
Pray.
Plan.
Save.
Create.
Seek counsel.
Build your skills.
Remain faithful.
And trust God with the outcome.
Faith does not mean sitting passively and expecting money to appear.
Faith can move your feet while you trust God with the destination.
Your Business Problem Is Not the End
Perhaps your business has failed.
Perhaps customers disappeared.
Perhaps an opportunity fell through.
Perhaps the plan you spent years building suddenly collapsed.
Remember this:
A failed plan is not necessarily a failed purpose.
Sometimes God uses closed doors to redirect us.
Sometimes failure teaches lessons success never could.
Sometimes a setback develops the resilience necessary for a future breakthrough.
Don’t waste your difficult season.
Ask:
“God, what can I learn here?”
“What character are You developing in me?”
“What wisdom can I gain from this?”
“How can this experience eventually glorify You?”
Your Family Problem Is Not Beyond God’s Reach
Maybe your problem is in your family.
Perhaps there is conflict.
Perhaps someone you love has walked away.
Perhaps a relationship has been damaged.
Perhaps you have been praying for restoration for years.
Do not give up hope simply because you cannot see the answer yet.
The story of Lazarus reminds us that God is not limited by what we can see.
Continue to pray.
Continue to love.
Continue to forgive where appropriate.
Continue to pursue wisdom.
Continue to trust God’s timing.
And remember:
The chapter you are living through is not necessarily the final chapter.
What Should You Do When You Face a Lazarus Situation?
When your circumstances look impossible, remember these five principles.
1. Tell Jesus About Your Problem
Mary and Martha sent word:
“Lord, the one you love is sick.”
They brought the problem to Jesus.
You can do the same.
Pray honestly.
Tell God what hurts.
Tell Him what you fear.
Tell Him what you need.
You don’t have to pretend everything is fine.
2. Don’t Interpret Delay as Abandonment
Jesus waited.
But His love had not changed.
If your answer has not arrived yet, don’t automatically conclude that God has forgotten you.
3. Believe That God Can Work Through the Situation
Jesus said the sickness would be connected to God’s glory.
Ask yourself:
“How can God use this situation for His glory?”
That question can transform the way you see adversity.
4. Keep Walking in Faith
Faith requires action.
Keep learning.
Keep working.
Keep praying.
Keep preparing.
Keep doing what is wise and right.
Don’t allow temporary circumstances to destroy permanent character.
5. Trust God’s Timing
You may not understand why Jesus did not arrive when Mary and Martha expected.
But they eventually discovered that God’s plan was greater than they understood.
You may not understand your current season either.
Trust Him anyway.
Your “Lazarus” May Become Your Greatest Testimony
There may be something in your life right now that feels like Lazarus.
Something that seems dead.
Something that seems impossible.
Something you have already stopped believing can change.
But before you surrender your faith, remember John 11.
Jesus said:
“This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
Those words were spoken in a specific situation, so we should not treat them as a guarantee that every modern problem will end in exactly the same way Lazarus’ did.
But the principle is powerful:
God can use suffering, delay, uncertainty, and impossible circumstances for His purposes and His glory.
So don’t let today’s circumstances convince you that God has no plan for tomorrow.
Have Faith in the Middle of the Storm
You may not know how your situation will end.
You may not know when the breakthrough will come.
You may not know what God is doing behind the scenes.
But you can choose faith today.
Faith says:
“I don’t understand everything, but I trust God.”
Faith says:
“This problem is real, but God is greater than my problem.”
Faith says:
“I may be waiting, but I will not give up.”
Faith says:
“My circumstances may change, but my trust in God will remain.”
The Billionaire Priest Lesson
At BillionairePriest.com, we believe that biblical prosperity is bigger than money.
It is about developing faith, wisdom, discipline, character, stewardship, and purpose.
And sometimes the greatest wealth you can gain during a difficult season is not financial.
It is wisdom.
It is resilience.
It is faith.
It is patience.
It is character.
Because when the opportunity finally comes, you want to be prepared to steward it.
Your difficult season can become your training ground.
Your setback can become your classroom.
Your waiting can become your preparation.
And your testimony can eventually become someone else’s source of hope.
Final Encouragement: Don’t Give Up
If you are facing a situation today that feels impossible, remember Lazarus.
Jesus knew the situation.
Jesus loved the family.
Jesus delayed.
The situation became worse.
But the story was not finished.
So whatever you are facing today, do not allow the appearance of your circumstances to destroy your faith in God’s ability to work through them.
Bring your problem to God.
Keep walking.
Keep learning.
Keep praying.
Keep believing.
Keep preparing.
And trust that God can use even the circumstances you don’t understand for His glory.
Your problem may be painful.
Your waiting may be difficult.
Your circumstances may look impossible.
But don’t confuse the current chapter with the conclusion of the story.
Have faith. God is still able to write a story beyond what you can currently see.
“This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” — John 11:4
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