“When He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the
place where He was. …” — John 11:6
Is it possible for you to sit in a room with your spouse or friend
while neither of you say a word and yet there is a closeness that can only come
from an intimate relationship with each other.
I am referring to those times when words are not necessary. The presence of each other’s company is rich
and satisfying and sufficient. When God
is silent, when He does not seem to respond to your prayers I think there are
three possibilities. The first two have
to do with us, the third with a sovereign God.
First, it is possible that you
have approached God with sin on your heart.
Like Jesus told Peter, (John 13:10) we don’t need our whole body washed
again, just our feet. You need to “wash your feet” before you attempt to stand
in the presence of a holy Second God. (1 John 1:9) It is not that God is
not listening, but that you are not speaking – in the spiritual sense.
Second, you have asked God to help you satisfy your lust for
something. Asking with the wrong motive.
Like when one of your children comes to you and asks for something that you
know is not good for them. What parent who loves their child would say yes? And
when they don’t get their way, they might say, “You don’t love me!” In fact,
the reason you said “no” was because you do love them.
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong
motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. – James 4:2-3
Third, God has answered with
“no” or “wait”. (John 11:6) Jesus waited
for Lazarus to die before He came.
People knew how much Jesus loved Lazarus, so why did He not come to the
rescue? Why didn’t He heal Lazarus like He had healed so many that He did not
know personally? It was like Jesus had made a mistake. But, as you know, there was something bigger
going on. Jesus was going to demonstrate
resurrection power. If God can form man from dust – speak the universe into
existence, how difficult can it be for Him to raise someone from the dead? In
response to the doubts of those who were counting on Jesus to show up at the
right time Jesus said …
“Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory
of God?” John 11:40
The question is, “How do we respond to His silence?” When God does
not show up when we expect Him to? Are we willing to accept God’s answer or do
we resent Him for not giving us what we want?
Is God’s silence enough of an answer? Or do you demand more? Is your life typified by “Lord give me what I
want or else!” Do you shake your fist in God’s face and say “You don’t love
me!” or are you like the tax collector?
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and
looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ‘Two men went up to the
temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee
stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other
people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast
twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to
heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I
tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.
For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble
themselves will be exalted.’” – Luke 18:9-14
As Christians, God has already given us more than we deserve. Answered
prayer, no matter how it's answered, is icing on the cake.
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