5 reasons to trust God's answer to prayer

Matthew 7:7 says to ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you; for everyone that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. One of the reasons why a person must pray is because apart from the intervention of God, nothing else can be done. Many times prayer is a last resort instead of being the first thing that should be considered. Only when all other resources are exhausted, people turn to God. God is omnipresent (everywhere at once), omnipotent (all powerful) and omniscience (all knowing). These three reasons alone answer the question of why we should trust his answer to our prayers instead of how we want it answered. He always makes all things beautiful in his time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

To keep these preceding points in context I have chosen to use John chapter 11. This is the story of Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus. Lazarus had become sick and the two sisters sent for Jesus. Today when we encounter problems our first aim should be to enter into prayer and ask for wisdom to deal with the problem correctly until God's answer comes. James 1:5 says that if any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given unto him. Many times a person acts off of emotion through trials that affect them and they make matters worse. Wisdom on the other hand responds in the correct way

God may not get the glory doing it our way"

It is appropriate for people to say thank you whenever a favor is done. If a person feels as though they have accomplished something on their own, they have no one to pat on the back but themselves. There is nothing wrong with receiving credit as long as God has received his first. You see to boast in oneself without giving God thanks for life, health, strength, a mind to think with, etc. leaves the door open for pride to set in.

Proverbs 16:18 declares that pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. God hates pride because it usurps the authority in ones life that belongs to him. Romans 12:3 says through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

We must have balance thinking that comes only as we first give God the glory praise and honor due him. In John 11 we know that Mary and her sister Martha wanted Jesus to heal their brother Lazarus who was sick. They had sent for Jesus to do that very thing, but it did not happen. Have you ever prayed for the Lord to do something specific and it did not happen? Well you can imagine how these women felt when their brother died.

When Jesus finally came two days later Lazarus had already been dead for 4 days. He gave an important reason for arriving at the time that he did back in John 11:4 by saying this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God. God wanted glory out of Lazarus being raised from the dead, not by him being sick unto death. God gets glory out of our victories, not out of our defeats.

In the middle of what looks like defeat in your life right now, give him the praise for what hasn't happened. May I tell you that things are not as bad as they could be. Lazarus could have remained dead which was as bad as things could have gotten for the family.

#2 He knows what is best for us

Regardless to what we make think, God knows what is best for us in any given situation. He tells us in Proverbs 3:6 That in all of our ways to acknowledge him, and he shall direct our paths. He does so because first of all he made us. The bible also says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. A manufacturer creates a product for a specific purpose, and if the purpose is abused the product will not function.

God is the manufacturer who knows why we were created. He also allows all things to work together for our good (Romans 8:28) because he aligns life's problems and circumstances in accordance with our purpose. God does not look at things the way that we do. We see things, problems, situations, etc. one thing at a time while he sees everything at once, past present and future.

The bible says that the eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the good and the evil and he will use both good and evil to work all things together for our greater good if we continually love and trust him. A parent knows what is best for their child based on limited knowledge, but God knows what is best for his children because he is all knowing (omniscience).

Matthew 7:11 says if ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? All of a parents love for their child pales in comparison to God's love for his children. Jesus knew what was best for Mary Martha and Lazarus even when the sisters did not understand. We are people who want to understand everything that happens in our lives, but it would not be faith if we did.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). We will not see some things until after God has already performed the miracle. Little did Mary and Martha know that they would be in the house with their brother again in John chapter 12.

#3 Lessons must be learned by others associated with our problems

Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out followed her saying she goeth unto the grave to weep there.

There was an important lesson for the Jews who were with Mary comforting her. Caring people who are associated with one in trouble, whether through family relationship or friendship are affected by what's happening. The Jews who were comforting Mary may or may not have been related, but what concerned Mary concerned them. Many times a person on the outside looking in can gain great faith by seeing the faith of the one affected. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 to let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. One of the greatest ways of letting our light shine is displaying the fruit of the spirit while going through trouble. If a person can count it all joy while going through their problems according to James chapter 1, certainly it will be noticed by those looking in. Problems often create an atmosphere and opportunity to witness about Jesus.