Unanswered or Intentional?
By Megan Conner
Bible Studying
“Now a person named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha… Now Jesus cherished Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed the place he was two extra days… After… he went on to inform them, “Our buddy Lazarus has fallen asleep; however I’m going there to wake him up…” On his arrival, Jesus discovered that Lazarus had already been within the tomb for 4 days… When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to satisfy him, however Mary stayed at house. “Lord,” Martha mentioned to Jesus, “if you happen to had been right here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” – John 11:1-21 (NIV).
Have you ever ever discovered your self pleading and praying, but appear to solely obtain silence as a response? Or, arrive on the opposite facet of circumstances solely to find none of what you desired or anticipated got here to go? The place was the Good Father within the midst of your trials?
The Bible is filled with assurances that God won’t ever depart or forsake us (Deut. 31:6), is aware of what we want earlier than we ask (Matt. 6:8), and encourages us to deliver our petitions to the Lord as a result of what we request will probably be given to us (Matt. 7:7). If all of those guarantees are true, why do our prayers go unanswered? Is the Lord uncaring and aloof; standing outdoors of our troubles and deliberately refusing to return to our help?
It may be disheartening and even complicated once we diligently pray because the Phrase directs us, but obvious provision just isn’t offered. One of the useful examples of this in scripture could be present in John chapter eleven, the place we encounter the dying and supreme resurrection of Lazarus. Jesus knew Lazarus was going to die. He may have prevented this tragedy but He selected to permit it to unfold with out intervention. Lazarus suffered sickness and bodily dying. His sisters and shut pals mourned deeply for days. Even Jesus, himself, wept when he arrived on the mournful scene. Why would the Lord permit a lot pointless sorrow when finally Lazarus can be spared the finality of dying?
Our Heavenly Father sees far past our momentary mild affliction (2 Cor. 4:17). His methods are usually not our methods, and his ideas are usually not our ideas (Isa. 55:8). He allowed nice heartache and even bodily ache for Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and others “for God’s glory in order that God’s Son could also be glorified by it” (John 11:4, NIV). We see an excellent higher instance of this within the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
How tough is it so that you can observe your youngster, or one other shut member of the family, endure? For the sake of his treasured creation, God allowed his solely son to tackle mortal type and then endure horrific torture and temporal dying so salvation may come to us. Nothing may have value extra. But, the ultimate final result far outweighed fleeting anguish. It’s unimaginable for us to grasp the depth of this transaction, however it’s clearly evident our Father’s love is aware of no bounds. It supersedes all worldly understanding.
How can this angle alter our viewpoint on our personal circumstances? Regardless of our unwelcome travails, the Lord is working for a similar good in our lives at present that was displayed by Lazarus 2,000 years in the past. It’s amid our personal journeys that our Savior’s unfathomable love is evidenced to the determined and hopeless. Even in our darkest hours, his mild shines by. Although your prayers could seem unanswered, there are literally intentional, everlasting functions at work. And his work is all the time good.
Intersecting Religion & Life:
Take a while to learn by all the chapter of John 11. Are you able to see that though Jesus may have prevented the dying of Lazarus, he deliberately selected to not reply the fervent prayers of Mary and Martha in order that God’s glory could also be made identified? How will you see his omniscient plans displayed in your personal life at present, even when the end result just isn’t what you desired? Are you able to recall a time when an “unanswered” prayer was really a blessing?
Additional Studying:
Matthew 7:7-11
Psalm 145:14 -21
Picture Credit score: ©Getty Pictures/Doidam10
Join with Megan on her web site www.meganjconner.com
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