Unanswered or Intentional?
By Megan Conner
Bible Reading
“Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha… Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days… After… he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up…” On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days… When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” - John 11:1-21 (NIV).
Have you ever found yourself pleading and praying, yet seem to only receive silence as a response? Or, arrive on the other side of circumstances only to discover none of what you desired or anticipated came to pass? Where was the Good Father in the midst of your trials?
The Bible is full of assurances that God will never leave or forsake us (Deut. 31:6), knows what we need before we ask (Matt. 6:8), and encourages us to bring our petitions to the Lord because what we request will be given to us (Matt. 7:7). If all of these promises are true, why do our prayers go unanswered? Is the Lord uncaring and aloof; standing outside of our troubles and intentionally refusing to come to our aid?
It can be disheartening and even confusing when we diligently pray as the Word directs us, yet apparent provision is not provided. One of the most helpful examples of this in scripture can be found in John chapter eleven, where we encounter the death and ultimate resurrection of Lazarus. Jesus knew Lazarus was going to die. He could have prevented this tragedy yet He chose to allow it to unfold without intervention. Lazarus suffered illness and physical death. His sisters and close friends mourned deeply for days. Even Jesus, himself, wept when he arrived at the mournful scene. Why would the Lord allow so much unnecessary sorrow when ultimately Lazarus would be spared the finality of death?
Our Heavenly Father sees far beyond our momentary light affliction (2 Cor. 4:17). His ways are not our ways, and his thoughts are not our thoughts (Isa. 55:8). He allowed great heartache and even physical pain for Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and others “for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (John 11:4, NIV). We see an even greater example of this in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
How difficult is it for you to observe your child, or another close family member, suffer? For the sake of his treasured creation, God allowed his only son to take on mortal form and then endure horrific torture and temporal death so salvation could come to us. Nothing could have cost more. Yet, the final outcome far outweighed fleeting anguish. It is unimaginable for us to comprehend the depth of this transaction, but it is clearly evident our Father’s love knows no bounds. It supersedes all worldly understanding.
How can this perspective alter our viewpoint on our own circumstances? Despite our unwelcome travails, the Lord is working for the same good in our lives today that was displayed through Lazarus 2,000 years ago. It is amid our own journeys that our Savior’s unfathomable love is evidenced to the desperate and hopeless. Even in our darkest hours, his light shines through. Though your prayers may appear unanswered, there are actually intentional, eternal purposes at work. And his work is always good.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Take some time to read through the entire chapter of John 11. Can you see that although Jesus could have prevented the death of Lazarus, he intentionally chose not to answer the fervent prayers of Mary and Martha so that God's glory may be made known? How can you see his omniscient plans displayed in your own life today, even when the outcome is not what you desired? Can you recall a time when an “unanswered” prayer was actually a blessing?
Further Reading:
Matthew 7:7-11
Psalm 145:14 -21
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Doidam10
Connect with Megan on her website www.meganjconner.com
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