- John 11:1 - Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
- John 11:2 - (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
- John 11:3 - Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
- John 11:4 - When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
- John 11:5 - Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
- John 11:6 - When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
- John 11:7 - Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again.
- Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
An unanswered prayer doesn't mean God doesn't see you. Even in silence, He is at work.
Have you ever felt like God is silent towards you? Perhaps you've prayed and asked Him for direction, but heard no answer.
It's possible to feel disappointed, discouraged, confused, or even angry when God doesn't answer our prayers immediately. Sometimes we start to think God has forgotten us.
Today's verses are a powerful example of what God's silence can look like. When Jesus heard that His friend Lazarus was sick, He didn't set out immediately; He stayed two more days. Martha and Mary probably didn't understand why Jesus was delayed and why He wasn't doing anything. But in the end, Jesus performed a miracle greater than simply healing the illness—He raised Lazarus from the dead. As a result, many believed.
God's silence doesn't mean He has forgotten us or is unaware of our situation. Even when we can't see what He's doing, He is at work.
God wants our relationship with Him not to depend solely on the answers He gives to our prayers. He wants us to love Him not just for what He gives us, but for who He is. Such love is one of the fruits the Holy Spirit produces in our lives (Galatians 5:22).
Truth for today: Even when God is silent, He does not forget us. We can continue to trust Him.
Reflection
How can we trust God when He is silent, and what do we learn from Him during this time?
