27 Jul Series Eight; If God Really Loves Me, Why Does He Take So Long To Answer Prayer?
If we had to summarize last Sunday’s message into two words they would be: “Hold On”. We continued the God Connection series at Relevance and answered the question: “If God really loves me, why does he take so long to answer prayer?”
To answer this, we looked at the story of Lazarus, which is found in the book of John (New Testament) chapter 11.
Lazarus becomes very ill and his sisters (Martha and Mary) ask Jesus, who is in a different village, to come to him. The Bible says “Jesus loved” the 3 siblings. The sisters even refer to Lazarus as “the one you love.”
But Jesus delays for two days.
Err… Hello Jesus? Did you get the memo? What kind of love is that?!
In the story, Jesus says to His disciples “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (John 11: 4).
But the disciples responded in unbelief and fear.
By the time Jesus gets to the village we are told that Lazarus has now been dead for 4 days. Yikes!?!
The first sister, Martha, approaches Jesus – “If you were here he wouldn’t have died” she says defiantly. Jesus’ response is: “Your brother will rise again”. “Oh yes”, Martha says with religious perfection “in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus meant that day but she placed her hope on a far-away date. She was too disappointed to muster up any hope for that day.
Mary then comes and falls at Jesus’ feet weeping. “If you were here he wouldn’t have died” she repeats! She is broken – she can’t see or believe that Jesus is capable of a miracle even now. She is overwhelmed by her pain.
Both sisters knew that Jesus was able to do miracles but they didn’t believe that He was able and willing to do it this time. He had delayed. He was too late. Game over.
Unbelief from his disciples. Unbelief from Martha. And unbelief from a weeping Mary who had previously sat at His feet and had seemed so convinced of His power (Luke 10:39)! These are people who had walked closely with Jesus and knew His heart and His miracle working power. And yet the delay to their prayer had crushed their faith.
And then the Bible says “Jesus wept.” It is the shortest sentence in the whole Bible but one of the most loaded (John 11:35). He wept at their unbelief.
Is your faith currently in tatters because of delays and dead-ends? Have you stopped believing He will come through for you because it has taken too long and the situation is now deader than dead?
Jesus pushes past their unbelief and He does the impossible: the miracle He had promised that would show God’s glory. He calls Lazarus to rise up from the tomb – “Lazarus, come out!” He commands. “And the dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.” (John 11:44). Unbelievable!!
See, if Jesus had healed Lazarus that would have been really nice. If He had caught Lazarus on his dying bed and turned the situation around that would have certainly turned heads. If He raised Lazarus the next day after he slipped into death that would have been amazing! But raising a dead, embalmed and decomposing body after 4 days – FOUR DAYS PEOPLE… well that’s just God.
God is a God of process. When He doesn’t get you out of situation in your timing it is often because He is still getting something out of you.
In fact, Romans 5:3-5 says “Rejoice” when you run into problems and trials! That sounds crazy! How can I rejoice when I don’t have my prayer answered? Well… because you develop endurance and endurance develops strength of character and character strengths our confident hope of salvation! “And this hope will not lead to disappointment.” When God delays your prayer, it deepens your reliance on and relationship with Him. Delays will stretch you, build your character and solidify your faith. And in the face of impossible situations, when there seems to be no way He will show up and blast through in style to glorify Himself.
It may not be in your time but it will be on time. We don’t see the full story – He has the full view.
What prayer have you prayed so much that you are even tired of praying it? What situation are you in right now that needs a mighty move of God? God’s promise to you today is this: Hold On.
Our Prayer Squad are always on hand to encourage you in prayer. Catch up with them before or after the service. See you on Sunday!
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