Do you have an unanswered prayer? Not just a small daily request, but a major heartbreaking, soul-wrenching, tear-soaking prayer that God has not answered? When you are in those moments are you wavering in your faith? Have you been tempted to stop praying since He doesn’t seem to be answering?

This morning I read John 11:1-44, where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. When Martha went to meet Jesus after her brother died, she was certain that if He had been there, Lazarus wouldn’t have died. What struck me was her strong faith, even after her prayers had not been answered. “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” (v 22).

I thought of the times that I have asked for something that did not come to pass. Even when we can’t see what the Lord is doing, we still must trust in Him–trust in WHO He is, what He has done and what He has promised. He has His reasons for His timing, and when He chooses to answer our prayers (or not), and we have to keep trust in Him. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Heb. 11:1)

We weren’t promised an easy and happy-go-lucky life. What we were promised is salvation, redemption, love, and eternal life with the Lord. We will go through trials, and we are promised that, too. But we are to rejoice even in the difficult times, and to praise Him. “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

In keeping our eyes on Jesus, we continue to look to the author and perfecter of our faith, who is seated at the Father’s right hand, with everything beneath His feet. Remembering that is how we can truthfully say to Jesus, “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask”.

I leave you with a verse and the chorus from one of my favorite songs, “Even If” by MercyMe.

They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well good thing
A little faith is all I have, right now
But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Oh give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul

I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You’d just say the word
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone