Don’t Stop Praying + One Of My Favorite Stories

“Then Jesus said, did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

~ John 11:40 ~

Happy Tuesday, Friends! Have you been praying a prayer for quite some time? Maybe you’ve been praying a prayer that seems like it is never going to be answered. And maybe you’ve been praying a prayer for so long that it seems that it will be just too late, and it’s pointless to keep praying. Well, if you’re feeling this, I hope this post will bring you some encouragement. I have several prayers that have been on my heart for quite some time. But this is a story in the Bible that keeps me remembering why I should not stop praying and also to believe in the Lord and wait for his perfect timing.

I love that we can turn to God’s Word (even though it was written so long ago) and find stories that bring us so much hope for the life we are living today. I firmly believe that everything written in the Bible is there for our learning so that we may find hope (Romans 15:4). Today I want to share a few of my thoughts on a story that has brought me a lot of hope.

I love the story of Lazarus. Not only do I find my comfort through the way Jesus worked in his perfect timing, but I also feel like I can relate to the frustration Mary and Martha had to have been feeling. Can’t you imagine their frustration? Mary and Martha both believed that Jesus was the Son of God (John 11:27). Their brother Lazarus had been sick, and Mary and Martha both believed that Jesus could heal their brother. But Lazarus died. I can only imagine their loss of hope and have to think that we often times feel that same frustration of “Lord, why haven’t you answered my prayer” that Mary and Martha must have been feeling. Mary and Martha both (at different times) said to Jesus, “If you had been there, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21 & John 11:32). The Jews that were there comforting Mary and Martha at the time even said wouldn’t you think that Jesus could have kept this man from dying (John 11:37)? This speaks to my heart because I so many times feel like giving up on some of my prayers that I’ve been praying for what seems like forever. The story of Lazarus reminds me that even though I can feel this way and sometimes want to get angry about “unanswered” prayers, I must remember that not only does God hear my prayers, but he also answers them in his timing…his perfect timing. Mary and Martha both believed that Jesus could heal their brother, and Jesus even promised them that if they believed, they would see the glory of God (John 11:40). And after four days of him being dead and Mary and Martha thinking that it was all too late for anything to be done, Jesus brought Lazarus back to life (John 11:43-44), in his perfect timing. The sisters believed, and they saw the glory of God! 

I also found it so amazing to see that when Jesus saw Mary crying about her brother, it says that Jesus was also “deeply moved in spirit and troubled” (John 11:33). This says a lot to me. It is also a reminder to me that the Lord knows our every emotion. He knows our every feeling. And he cares that much about us, and being able to find our comfort through him is such a beautiful thing. 

When I read the story of Lazarus, I am reminded to continue my prayers…never stop! Friends, God hears each and every one. He has a plan so beautiful for each and every one of us, and he is going to answer our prayers in his perfect timing. and I know that I would’t want anything other than his perfect timing. 💗

I hope this little reminder has offered you some encouragement today!

Delightfully Yours,