Return to the Devotionals page.
There are few things people enjoy more than getting their way or having their desires fulfilled. Such is also true for believers, especially when God answers our prayerful requests and supplications. However, not getting what we want can leave us discouraged and disappointed, especially when it concerns the desires and requests we bring before our heavenly Father.
Such was the case in the account recorded in John 11:1-44, where Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus concerning the critical condition of their brother Lazarus. While Mary and Martha were likely expecting Jesus to come immediately, He instead delayed His visit and Lazarus died. This unexpected decision on Jesus' part left Mary and Martha understandably disappointed and upset, with both women telling Him their belief that Lazarus would not have died if He had visited them sooner, as verses 21 and 32 record. While Jesus understood and even shared their pain, with Him weeping alongside them, His decision to not answer their request at the time was made for a much greater purpose than the sisters realized. As verses 38-44 state, He addressed their desire for Him to help their brother by not just helping him recover, but miraculously raising him from the grave. Thus, while He did not immediately answer their prayers, He did so in His own perfect timing to not just help Lazarus, but also to bring glory to God and bear witness of His perfect faithfulness and sovereignty.
Like this account in John 11, many of us have experienced difficult times where our prayers to God were not answered in the way we expected them to be. It is easy to become disappointed during these times when the interventions we request do not come, the desires we ask for are denied, or the difficult seasons we petition God to end persist. Although we are encouraged to bring such needs and concerns to God in prayer, we tend to believe we know what we or other people need when praying and thus expect God to work in the ways we envision Him to. Thus, our disappointment from God deviating from our desires and prayers is often rooted in relying on our finite and flawed perspective of God's work and will.
Fortunately, the account of Lazarus' death and raising demonstrates encouraging truths that can help us overcome disappointment when our requests remain unfulfilled. For example, as Jesus responded to Mary and Martha's request in His time, the Lord has our best interests in mind when He delays the fulfillment of our prayers. It is during these times that He calls us to wait on and draw closer to Him, where He can build our faith, dependence, and humility so we can fully receive and appreciate His blessings and provisions. Also, as Jesus shared Mary and Martha's grief, God's love for us is constant even when our prayers remain unfulfilled. It is during these times of suffering that He promises to comfort us and even strengthen us to do the same for others as Paul states in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. Finally, God uses delays, withholdings, and even our losses for His glory. Whether it be through building our witness or miraculously answering prayers in His time, God can work all things we go through for His glory and for the salvation of others. Thus, our unfulfilled desires and petitions need not be met with crippling discouragement for they all have purposes in the plan of God.
While God loves to answer our requests and fulfill our godly desires, there are times when His will dictates a delay or an answer of "no" to our prayers. While it is tempting to respond to these answers with disappointment or despair, Lazarus' account demonstrates how God uses these difficult times for our good and His glory. By remembering that God's will surpasses our finite understanding, we can overcome these times of disappointment and trust in the Lord to give us His best for our lives.
Return to the Devotionals page.