Have you ever been at a place in your life where you were ready to give up? Have you ever prayed for something for so long and so hard only to seemingly never see it happen? Have you been so sad, so angry, so distraught that you have thought to yourself:
"If you (Jesus) really loved me, if You were really there for me, You would have answered my prayer."
David probably had similar feelings when he says in Psalm 39:12,
“Hear my prayer, O Lord, And give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, A sojourner, as all my fathers were."
God Alone
Sometimes we have to come to the end of our rope, the end of ourselves, to see that God alone answers prayer.
Too Late?
In John Chapter 11 we read the story of Mary, Martha, Lazarus and Jesus. Lazarus was loved by Jesus and very sick. Mary and Martha knew that if Jesus would come to him Lazarus would be healed. Jesus, however, waited. He was too late and Lazarus died. When Jesus finally arrived mourners were around the tomb.
Lazarus had already been dead four days. Martha and Mary both tell Jesus, "Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died." Were they angry? Probably. They knew Jesus was a mighty healer. They had complete faith in His ability to heal. But now, it was too late, or so they thought.
Do you feel, like Mary and Martha did, as if it is too late for your prayer to be answered? Do you feel like God has abandoned you? That He did not come to help you when He should have?
But what did Jesus say when he heard of Lazarus's illness? In John 11: 4 He says this,
"When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”"
Jesus knew what was going to happen. Yes, Lazarus would die, but Jesus knew fully that Lazarus would be raised to life again for the glory of God.
Remove the Stone
Jesus tells them to remove the stone that sealed the tomb. Without removing that stone Lazarus would have been trapped, unable to walk out. Are you trapped by something in your life? Is there a burden, a sin, a thought that is sealing you in and that needs desperately to be removed.
Listen to the Voice
When Jesus cried out, "Lazarus come forth." The dead man became alive again and walked among the living. Are we dead in sin and wrongdoing? Are we dead to the glory of God? Do we need to heed the voice that is calling us?
Only God
When we come to the end of our ability to fix things, when there is no hope left, there is God. Sometimes we need to be reminded that God alone can heal, can bring back the dead, can give life everlasting. It is not ourselves that can do anything, only God.
Perfect Timing
Mary and Martha had given up. Their brother's only hope, they thought, was in the resurrection. Jesus reminded them that His timing is perfect. Lazarus was raised from the dead, free of illness and Jesus was glorified through this miracle.
Wherever you are and in whatever circumstance , don't give up. Wait on the Lord. God's timing is perfect. In Psalm 38:15 David tells us,
"For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God."
When we pray the will of God, never give up believing and hoping that God will hear you and answer because
"... God is greater than our heart, and knows all things." I John 3:20
Dearest Father,
In all things we seek your will. You know our needs and desires. You know what is good for us better than we do. Let our will and yours be the same. Grant us the grace to wait patiently on You. Grant us the ability to not give up hope, knowing that You hear us. In your Son's Holy and glorious name we pray, Amen.
Today's thoughts were inspired by a sermon from Carter Conlon entitled. "Is Jesus Groaning Over You" You can watch it here
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