Sometimes all you need to do is show up

Sometimes you don’t have to say anything. You don’t have to speak to be heard. All you need to do is show up. 

In the Gospels there is no record of anything Lazarus said, nevertheless he was a powerful witness. Wherever Lazarus went, his mere presence was witness of what Jesus did for him. 

I can imagine annoyance and frustration of religious leaders when Lazarus would show up in their midst. Lazarus was a reminder of power Jesus had, while religious leaders lacked manifestation of the power of God. Jesus had capacity to bring a dead person back to life and Lazarus was a silent witness of that power. 

Sometimes this is all we need to do too. We don’t have to say anything. We can be a silent witness of whatever Jesus did in our lives. There are times when our mere presence communicates something and there is no need to use words. 

In my case that sometimes means to show up and lead a prayer meeting where someone participating in the meeting is secretly opposing my leadership and is after my leadership role.  Other times is to show up and lead worship in church although I do not have beautiful voice and I can’t play any instrument well. On my bad, burnout days, it is to show up for the same mundane tasks in ministry and doing the best I can. I’ve been silently showing up a lot lately. I’ve learned to ask Jesus for help and then I would just show up. 

Before you go out today, you can read and ponder a story of resurrection of Lazarus  (John 11). While you do that, you can think about your own struggles. Like Mary and Martha, you too can ask Jesus for help. Sometimes, before the miracle happens, all you need to do is, merely ask Jesus for help and then show up. The fact that you keep showing up is a silent witness of what Jesus is doing in your life.