Where Were You?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH0PmaKxOtA

Too Good to Not Believe ~ Cody Carnes

‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’ ~ John 11:21-22 NIVUK

Recently, my prayers felt dry, empty. One morning, I asked Holy Spirit to help me to pray, again. Then, in the way that only He can, Holy Spirit led me to my answer.

John 11 opens with the news that Lazarus is ill. Instead of going to Lazarus immediately, Jesus doesn't begin the journey to His friend’s home till after Lazarus died. Before He’d even arrived, Martha ran out to meet Jesus and said, “Lord...if you had been here, my brother would not have died,” (v.21). In essence, “Where were You?” 

Have you ever asked that of someone? Have you ever asked that of God? Where were You in my need? Where were You in my suffering? Where were You when we were praying for healing? Martha’s attack, though out of pain and anger, was not unleashed upon a stranger, but on a very close friend. That realization answered my questions about my prayers. Because I know that God is with me and He hears my prayers, I expected Him to answer when we prayed fervently for Brad’s sick friend, and again when we prayed for another friend’s mom, and again when we prayed for someone else. But when each person either passed away or kept getting worse, it became harder and harder to pray and believe that my prayers were being heard.

Jesus was not troubled by Martha’s attack, nor is He by ours. Only someone who cares about the relationship cares enough to ask, “Where were you” in their pain. Instead of rebuking Martha, He redirected her focus to the truth: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” (vv.25-26). The most important answer is not Jesus’ reasoning for how He answered our prayers, but our answer to His question: Do you believe? Do you trust Me? 

The Lord has done His job, and He continues to remain faithful and trustworthy. Our job is to pray fervently, walk purely, and believe wholly. If you’ve been feeling dry in your prayer life, it’s time to ask yourself, “Do I trust Jesus? Do I believe?”

©Heather Potts 2021

How Do You Decide?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH0PmaKxOtA&list=RDdH0PmaKxOtA&start_radio=1&rv=dH0PmaKxOtA&t=0

Too Good to Not Believe ~ Cody Carnes

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

    and lean not on your own understanding;

 in all your ways submit to him,

    and he will make your paths straight.

~ Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

How do you decide what to have for dinner, the route to take to the store, which outfit to wear, or what to do with $25? Many of the decisions we make each day seem small, even insignificant to us. Recently, I sold something for $25. I hadn’t thought about what I was going to do with the money, so I put it in our “fun” budget. Those small, no-big-deal decisions can have a big impact when we invite God into them.

Sadly, some of our friends are in the middle of a crisis. Long story short, I volunteered to take a meal to them. However, due to the number of adults I’d have to feed, I ordered some food from a local restaurant. Little did I know it, but God had arranged for the item to sell for the exact amount I’d need to cover dinner: $25!

Proverbs 3:6 says in all our ways, we’re to acknowledge --submit to--God. Not just in the big or scary things, but in all things: all situations and decisions. 1 Peter 5:7 says to cast all our cares on him--all our anxieties, all our worries, and all our concerns. Have questions about your finances or an upcoming vacation? Toss them to God. Worried about the doctor’s findings? Throw it to God. Anxious about the new school year or changes at your job? Cast them at His feet.

When God says to cast our cares, it’s not a gentle placing of our questions, cares, or concerns. It’s like a major league pitcher hurling them across home plate. God doesn’t want you to keep them, carry them, or waste any more time, effort, or energy on them. Cast your cares on God and wait for His reply. Perhaps the reason you’ve held them is because you feel God’s reply takes too long for your comfort. But Proverbs 3:5-7 say not to assume or pretend we know best. Instead, we’re to put all our trust and confidence in the Lord, submitting to Him in all things. It’s only from a posture of total submission that we can recognize and follow the paths that God lays out for us. His path isn’t one big answer for all of life’s questions. He has an answer and a promise for each need, question, care, and concern.

The next time you receive something or have a question, hold it out to God and ask what you’re to do with it. His answer just might surprise you.

©Heather Potts 2021