When God Seems Indifferent to our Trials

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison”

(2 Cor. 4: 17, NASB) 

It is one thing to go through difficulties in life and have some idea of why you are going through it. It is even bearable to go through a temporal time of suffering. However, it is quite another thing to go through a severe trial for many years without understanding why? There just does not seem to be any purpose or end result to the trial. When it first began it was understandable for a time, but then when years turn into decades without any sign or light to the difficulty to fulfill its end. Then frustration, anger, and confusion sets in and we ask God "Why?" But no answer comes. It seems as if the doors of heaven is closed to your prayers. We ask, "Why is God ignoring me? Why is He so indifferent to my cries? Doesn't He even care about what I am going through?"  

These questions above would remind us of two examples from Scripture: Martha and Mary and Jesus and the disciples in the boat. The first example is with Martha and Mary's trial of faith, which was long and enduring; whereas, the second example is the disciples in the boat with Jesus who quickly answered their plight, which resulted in their trial being brief and immediately came to an end. Let's look at Jesus and His disciple first, then we will look at Mary and Martha. 

 (1.) In Mark 4: 35-41; Luke 8: 22-25 we read about the disciples in the boat with the Lord Jesus. The Lord was asleep when the storm struck. The disciple fearing for their lives woke Him and said, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" (4: 38). Jesus arose from His sleep and commanded the storm to cease. Immediately the wind and the waves ceased. Though the Lord rebuked them for their lack of faith. The Lord Jesus still responded to their cry, because it was a cry of faith. This of course teaches us that sometimes the Lord answers our prayers of distress immediately, while other times the Lord makes us wait. 

(2.) Lastly in John 11: 1-46  the Lord Jesus hears the sad news of Lazarus illness. The sisters, Mary and Martha send word to the Lord saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick" (v. 3). On hearing this Jesus stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then Jesus became aware of Lazarus' death (vs. 11-14). Jesus after hearing that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days was greeted by Martha who heard of His coming. In anguish of soul she said, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (v. 21). In other words, the Lord Jesus showed up too late to help him. Jesus had not promptly come to Lazarus' side, when he was bidden to come. Jesus even came across as being indifferent to His friend Lazarus' grave illness when He purposefully stayed in the place He was to (v. 6). However, though all seemed to be hopeless, Jesus utters these hope filled words, "Your brother will rise again" (v. 23). (To be Continued...)