"If Only" "But even now!"
Reading in John 11 this morning, Jesus arrives in Bethany to visit deceased Lazarus.  His sister Martha meets Jesus with “If only you had been here.”  We ourselves often use what I’ve found to be a useless phrase.  We can’t change present circumstances to “if only”.  The “if only” of life is futile.

But Martha also demonstrates strong faith adding: “But even now”.  The late arrival of Jesus at this time brings hope.  “Even now” God can make a difference.  

As Christ-followers, we can either get stuck in the “if only”, or with Christ’s presence we can say “Even now!”  He makes the difference between “if only” and “even now”.