August 20, 2023
“He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.“ -John 11:6
Have you ever felt so alone in your circumstances that you whispered a desperate prayer wondering where God was only to find Heaven silent? Unreciprocated pleas are usually trying; they can cause us to wonder if what the entire bible says about God is true. We may silently murmur to the Lord: “If you are really a God of Love, why don’t you answer me and let me know that you are truly listening? Don’t you see I really need you right now? Doesn’t the Word say, ‘the LORD hears when I call to Him?’, (Psalm 4:3). And that ‘He hears my voice and my supplications?’”, (Psalm 116:1). There are times when we sense such a deep conviction that He will answer our requests instantly due to the urgency of the matter at hand. However, often such is not the case.
Mary and Martha had similar thoughts and expressed their frustrations to Jesus when facing a serious and deadly crisis (John 11). Their brother Lazarus was very ill and in need of immediate medical attention, they saw no one else to turn but the Lord. Their petition was sent to him with great urgency and they concluded that he would return without delay, heal their brother, and everything would then turn out for the best. Still, they found only silence, a sense of abandonment and of being forsaken by the One whom they loved and who loved them dearly as well. Lazarus died, was buried, and their disappointment turned to deep regret and great sorrow. When the Lord finally arrived it appeared that he was too late. Or was he?
What is clear is that Jesus’ intention was not to heal Lazarus but raise him up from the dead. What he wanted from them was a simple trust, a knowing that He had everything under control, was well aware of the situation and what they were feeling and thinking: “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all”, (Psalm 139:1-4). We will experience occasions in our walk with God when we will not see the things that we desire come to pass exactly or as quickly as we wish them too.
We may also feel that the unanswered prayers which lay heavily upon our hearts may never come to a realization. An extended period of time may pass before we see any movement on God’s part. “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going”, (John 3:8). Our Heavenly Father may be in the process of withholding an answer to our prayers in order that we may see another side of Himself and His glory in order to provide something much greater than we can ever expect or hope for since He “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think”, (Ephesians 3:20). Our response in times such as these is extremely crucial. Let us not react as the heathen do where with utter pride and contempt they cry out, “Where is the promise of His coming?”, (2 Peter 3:4). Faith and Hope must continually be our companions as we slowly move forward to His place of rest and contentment.
When we feel as if life has us on hold and we do not see a guarantee of a fulfilling future we must continue to remember that “the Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you…and without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him”; ( 2 Peter 3:9; Hebrews 11:6). Mary and Martha both had come to these same conclusions and witnessed one of the greatest events ever recorded in Scripture. Our Father in Heaven has not left us alone to handle our difficulties. He has provided His Spirit to help us along every step of the way. “When He the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth”, (John 16:13). He is listening to you attentively and is waiting for a grand opportunity to “show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…do you believe this?”; (2 Chronicles 16:9; John 11:26).
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