I love the story of Jesus and Lazarus. While Jesus is away, His friend Lazarus dies. When word comes to Jesus about His friend, He didn’t run to the rescue. Jesus shows up 4 days after Lazarus died. You can read the story here John 11. 

The great part of the story is Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Yeah King Jesus! 

What about the situations in your life where it seems there’s no hope or miracle coming? I want to speak to those times in this post. 

I’ve heard people say, “You have no right to question God.” Well, from what I’ve read in the Bible many people questioned and dialogued with God. It’s approaching Him in humility saying, “I’d love to understand what You’re doing. Would you share with me?”

Preventing future harm…

(Names changed to protect privacy)

There was Jon (not his real name).  Jon wanted all the ladies. Women where like toys. They were used and tossed aside. He treated women horribly. He destroyed many lives. He delighted in his looks and charm. Well, one day Jon was in a car accident and he died. People prayed and Jon was raised to life. He lost his looks. Jon stated more than anything in the world he “loved” being with women. Jon has limited to no ability  to ruin more women’s lives. People prayed for his total physical restoration. Yet, Jon is limited to a living with caregivers. 

Then there was Amy (not her real name). Amy abused drugs and sold her body. One day she was in a horse back riding accident that caused her to be paralyzed from the waist down. She was told she’d never walk again. This accident forced her to cease selling her body and using drugs. She began to seek God. I am not stating God caused the accident. 

One day God healed her completely. Amy then decided to go back to a life of doing drugs, prostituing herself, and she abandoned her desire for God. The last I heard of Amy we were trying to rescue her from being sex trafficked. She ended up in rehab and I know nothing of her whereabouts now. 

Do I believe God wants people healed and whole? Yes. Jesus paid for healing on the cross. Do I think God cares about every detail of our lives? Yes. Do I believe God puts sickness on people? No. Sickness and death are results of the fall. Do I believe we sometimes miss part of the equation when pursuing a miracle? Yes. 

Both Jon and Amy needed inner healing. You see it’s not enough for the body to be healed, the mind and  emotions need healed too. Jon and Amy also needed deliverance from the spiritual issues that were driving them to destructive behaviors…what does it matter to have a healed body and end up going to hell? God does heal people who reject Him. Yet I know He cares deeply about the fate of each soul. 

Issues beneath the surface…

Which leads me to….Deborah (not her real name). Deborah had a physical impairment. As we prayed for her there seemed to be some breakthrough, but not full breakthrough. Finally we got to a major root issue: unforgiveness. Once we walked her through forgiving someone she began to have more breakthrough. End of the story, she experienced some physical breakthrough. So much of it was spiritual and emotional. The last area to have improvement was her body and there’s still more breakthrough needed. There were many things God wanted to do inside this sweet lady. While we were initially focused on one thing, God was interested in healing the whole person. 

He’s blessing everyone else…

Does God have favorites? Is He ignoring you? No.

For a long season I thought I was being punished. It was one bad season after another. I watched my friends have their dreams come true, and have no major issues or problems. Meanwhile I was battling crisis after crisis. I had so many tragic things happen. There were many miracles and some things died and were not resurrected. 

God isn’t dead…or deaf…nor has He ceased performing miracles…

God hears our cries. Some breakthroughs are immediate. Some take time. If you read the book of Daniel you will see after he prayed the answer was delayed 21 days. Some breakthroughs come through intercession, waiting, or God just shows up and bam👊🏼. I’ve found breakthrough can be hindered by unbelief, murmuring, complaining, or living out of a sense of entitlement (God owes me something). Sometimes God is preparing us for the miracle. 

Stacy and Matt (names changed) could not get pregnant. We prayed and prayed. Once they gave up on getting pregnant, they started saving for adoption. Once they paid off their debt and were financially ready for a child, they got pregnant. God’s timing was perfect. 

The same goes for singles. God loves to give good gifts. Are you preparing for marriage? Will you steward well someone’s heart and life? Have you learned to love God most? Are you loving the people already in your life well? 

Are you preparing for what you’re asking God for? 

What’s God doing in the meantime? 

Working in us! Deepening our dependence on Him. I’ve learned more about God in the tough seasons than I ever have on the mountain top. I learned the intensity of His love, comfort, and power. While other kids were playing. I was learning how to pray because miracles were needed. 

There are so many more stories I could tell you. There are still things I’m waiting on, promises spoken that seem to have minimal or no fruit. 

Learning from experience with God, when I can’t see His hand, I can trust His heart. You may laugh…I often preach sermons to my own soul. I must. I encourage myself in His word, “Papa Your word says…You cannot lie. You are so faithful to Your word….” I have daily declarations. I speak His words over my circumstances. 

I’d be lying if I said there haven’t been tear stained face days, days of unanswered questions…Days, to weeks, to months mending broken dreams or a broken heart. What I can say to you is this. 

God sees.

God hears.

God loves you. He loves you more than you could love anyone. 

If He doesn’t deliver you from, He’ll deliver you through. 

God doesn’t waste pain. He heals, redeems, and restores. He gives joy for mourning! I know this so well…

What matters to you, matters to Him. 

Jesus paid it all.

It’s good to ask, “God what are You trying to teach or show me?” 

My favorite prayers, “God help! Increase my faith!” 

Delay is not denial. Pray…believe God hears you. 

God’s plan is good. It doesn’t always feel good. Sometimes it’s SO painful. Yet, in the end it will make sense. 

God can be trusted. 

It’s darkest right before breakthrough.

Who God is trumps what He does. In every season He’s worthy of love and worship.

Your breakthrough sets you up to see someone else get breakthrough. 

Your words during times of crisis matter. Words are seeds. If you don’t want it to grow, cease speaking death and doubt filled words. 

Loving you sweet friends. Praying for your breakthrough and increase in faith. You’re prayed for daily! Don’t lose hope. You may be just a few days away from a miracle!  

Love, 

Erin