Trust God when God seems absent

Frequently God is actively working, blessing, transforming, and renewing in powerful ways that go completely unnoticed by the faithful. Not always being in tune with God’s behind-the-scenes work does not necessarily make one a bad, flawed, or sinful Christian. It does however, remind us that when things do not go the way Christian, in full faith and belief, it may not be because God does not care, but that God is working behind the scenes in ways that we do not perceive. Consider the case of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in John 11.

When Lazarus fell ill, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus to come quickly. Yet Jesus seemed unconcerned about the dire news coming from Bethany. One can imagine that it was even shocking to his disciples who were with him. First, they were perplexed that Jesus would not react to the news with the same urgency with which it was delivered. Then, Jesus seemed to do an about face and express a desire to return to Judea where Lazarus was without regard to fact that everyone knew Jesus’ life was in danger should he return.

Once Jesus arrived at the home of Lazarus, his two sisters were understandably upset and angry with Jesus for not coming sooner. Martha and Mary both indignantly scolded Jesus saying, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” The pain is real. Prayers were said, the faithful held on to hope, messages had been sent to Jesus, and yet the very thing Mary and Martha did not want to happen happened. Their beloved brother was dead and Jesus did not come quickly enough to satisfy their desires.

In a fallen world where sin, death, violence, hatred, disease, addiction, and cruelty permeate so many sectors of society—and even the church—it can be hard to sit back and trust that God really cares. It can even feel as if God is nothing more than an ancient myth that has no validity or authenticity in the modern, scientific, and practical age. Tragically, given the crisis of faith good people have when prayers go unanswered and God is seemingly absent, some give up hope and choose to not believe in God at all.

Mary and Martha were different. Martha even went as far as to turn her anger and disappointment over to God saying, “even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Furthermore, she expressed a heartfelt belief in the authenticity of the resurrection in the last days.” These are not the words of a woman who has given up on God or abandoned the faith in the aftermath of unanswered prayers and disappointing realities. These are the words of one who is legitimately angry at what appears to be inaction by Jesus, yet trusts that there is a greater good beyond her understanding.

As the story completes, Lazarus is brought back from the dead and lives again. It serves as a powerful reminder that even in times when all hope is lost, God still works for the blessing of those whom God loves. Not only that, God works in ways that are beyond human understanding, yet remain within the power and province of our loving Creator. The key is to hold fast to the faith, seek the peace that surpasses all understanding as Paul says in Philippians Four, and trust that God is working even when we cannot see it happening.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Trust God when God seems absent