The One Who Stands by Us

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

October 17, 2025

The One Who Stands by Us

Jesus wept.

John 11:35 (KJV)

The story of Lazarus’ death and resurrection is recorded in John 11:1-44. The full context of this story makes clear Jesus fully knew what had happened to his friend Lazarus, and more importantly, what he was going to do. This story is hugely important to us for affirming that resurrection is not an event, it is a person: “Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” (John 11:25) If Jesus knew he was going to command Lazarus to live again, why did he weep?

The Prophet Isaiah answers this question for us:

“For the Lord has comforted his people

    and will have compassion on them in their suffering.

Can a mother forget her nursing child?

    Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?

But even if that were possible,

    I would not forget you!

See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.

Isaiah 49:13-16

This passage from Isaiah, and ten thousand more, is why the Apostle Paul could affirm that we do not grieve like people who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13) Our hope is both in the eternal life of the followers of Jesus, and on the One who stands by us as those we have loved are lowered into the grave.

My Takeaway: Paul also wrote, “All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” (1 Corinthians 13:12b) I take great comfort knowing that God knows me completely, and that He stands by me. This truth helps me stay in God’s grace for today.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.