3/18/2007 message by Pastor Fred Goldschmidt
The time that God does not answer prayer is a time especially created to learn from him.
We're continuing our series of messages about something that is strange for believers to admit—what to do when God does not answer our prayers.
As a faith-filled believer, a child of God, one who trusts in God and believes his promises, how do you handle times when the heavens are brass? When God is silent? When your troubles mount and your needs double?
It would be silly to think that God grants every request from every believer. Who would win the big ball games? But we still believe that God deals with each and every one of our prayers.
Still, you might be surprised to know that unanswered prayer is a very common theme in the Bible.
One phrase in the Bible, "How long," is usually used in prayer. It occurs 63 times throughout the Bible—most often by an exasperated person wondering when God will come through:
- How long will you be angry?
- How long will you forget me?
- How long will you will you be silent?
- How long will you will you hide yourself?
- How long will the wicked get their way?
- How long will I call for help?
- How long will you have no compassion?
- How long will you keep us in suspense?
- How long will you keep from judging and avenging our blood?
Last week Pastor Rich said if we have unanswered prayers, then we're in good company. He read 2 Corinthians 4:16 where it says that we do not lose hope, even though our outward bodies waste away, because we're being renewed inwardly.
Today I want to look at a passage of Scripture about a whole group of people who lost hope because they believed God had not come through in answering their life-long prayer.
Luke 24:13-21 (NASB) 13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, "What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?" And they stood still, looking sad. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, "Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware, of the things which have happened here, in these days?" 19 And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to Him, "The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides, all this, it is the third day since, these things happened."
How can times like these teach us? Despite what some say about the Christian life, there are times you will feel like the men on the road to Emmaus. Sometimes we feel that
- God has not done what we expected him to do (v 21).
- God has stopped working in miraculous ways like he did in the past (v 19)
- God seems clueless about what we're experiencing (v 18)
After rebuking their criticism (v 27), Jesus began to teach them about times of unanswered prayer. What can be learned in times of unanswered prayer?
1. You do not know everything God is doing.
In our attempts to believe in the Bible and in the power of prayer and God's nearness, at times we don't realize that his plans are higher, better, and beyond our comprehension.
The fact is, we have a lot to learn about God. Though these men had spent years with Jesus, they still did not know all about his plan.
It can seem to us that we have a complete grasp on life and our circumstances, but when God does not answer our prayers the way we think he should, it could be because he knows things you don't know.
We're like the college football player—a big, dumb lineman who sees a lovely lady at campus coffee shop. "I don't suppose you've found a date yet , eh?" And she informs him, "I have a 3.9 GPA, and I only date the academic type. What is your GPA?"
He smiles. "Oh, I get 23 in the city, 38 on the highway."
God has a higher GPA, a higher IQ, and he gets better MPGs than we do. We sometimes think that God doesn't get it, but the reality is we even don't have a clue about what the question is.
2. Hope thrives in grave danger
The men thought their hope was dead because Jesus was in the grave. But the grave is not a challenge to God.
If we could just learn that nothing is impossible with God, we would not ever come to the place of hopelessness.
Even though Jesus was crucified, dead, buried, in the cave, he is just as able as he ever was. It's the same in our lives.
What Cancer Cannot Do (Author Unknown, Winter 1999)
Cancer is so limited.
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot invade the soul.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the spirit.
3. Some things must take place before the answer comes.
While you are waiting for your answer, you do not realize how many things God must do first before your answer can come.
Daniel had been praying to a point of extreme weariness, when an angel appeared to him and said. "At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell {you,} for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision." (Dan 9:23)
12 Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding {this} and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia." (Dan 10:12-13)
The silence of God is not the inactivity of God. God is working on your behalf but you do not see it yet!
4. God is often hidden in times of trial.
The men on the road to Emmaus were prevented from recognizing Him, even though he was right there (v 16).
The famous poem "Footprints" demonstrates how—when it appeared we were struggling alone under the pressures of life—that God is actually very near...and carrying us.
Just because you can not see God, does not mean he is not there.
Psalms 139:7-12 (NASB) 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol , behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night," 12 Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.
How can we learn in times of unanswered prayer?
1. Wait.
The men on the road to Emmaus were walking away from the evidence of God's presence back in Galilee.
Matthew 28:16 (NASB) But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.
Wait for God. He does not use a calendar. Does not carry a Palm Pilot. Does follow daylight savings. Doesn't care about leap year. Could not give a rip about human deadlines.
But God is never late, never lost. He always has it together. If you wait for God, you will be okay.
2. Expect God to do what is good.
This is where true faith comes in.
Sure, you believe in God! That's why you pray. But when you don't get the answer, faith believes God will still do what is good.
Psalm 119:68 (NIV) You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.
When we are disappointed in God, we tend to think the worst: God does not like me; God does not care; God prefers others.
But God loves you enough to die for you—enough to forgive you, to save you, and to welcome you into his family.
God loves you enough to prepare a place in heaven. God is good, and what he does in your life is good. Expect God to do what is best for you.
3. Look for God's presence.
Jonah in the belly of a fish—running from God—found God was there in the fish.
John banished to prison on an island was in the presence of God on the Lord's day.
Jacob—running for his life, in the middle of nowhere—laid down exhausted, put his head on a rock, and fell asleep. While he slept, he dreamed. And when he woke up, he said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it" (Genesis 28:16, NASB).
If you look for God, you will find him
4. Read the Bible
There's a reason Gideon Bibles are popular in hotels, hospitals, and foxholes. When you read what God has to say, so you get the answer to your prayer. When you seem lonely, read the Word of God and you will find life.
There are some parts of the Bible that don't make sense unless they're read in pain, darkness, or prison. God's word is a lamp to your feet—a light to your darkened path.