Where is God when life falls apart? It’s the literal question Mary and Martha are asking when their brother, Lazarus, dies. Jesus’ response—and the timing of his response—has much to teach us about faith, hope and the character of God.

Jesus describes an image the Jewish people knew well: wandering sheep, and the shepherd who gathers and cares for them. We can be wanderers, too—often by choice. Do we hear and recognize his voice?

In Genesis 1, God created light and brought the world out of darkness. Jesus described himself in a similar way. As the Light of the World, he wants to enter our brokenness and set things right—even in a dark world where his healing light is not always welcome.

Jesus follows one of his most famous miracles—the feeding of the 5,000—with a bold proclamation about his identity … and then some jarring statements about his flesh and blood. For the “fans” looking for miracles and free food, this was too much. They were done. But we can learn a lot from the true followers who stayed.

A hungry crowd. A deadly storm. When things feel out of control—then and right now—Jesus is greater than it all. When we realize who he really is, and we trust him enough to do what he says, incredible things can happen.