Unanswered

When we think about why God may answer prayer with "wait" or "no," a lot of us hear someone in the background of our minds saying, "Get used to this. God usually doesn't answer prayer." That voice might sound like someone you heard growing up.

I think that voice isn't right about God. I want to propose another story about why God might say "wait" or "no."

Here's my story: God is consistently working for your highest good. He is doing what is wisest and best.

Jesus knows what's best for people, and we're often surprised we don't.

How come you're not dancing, bro?

That's what's Matthew talks about in chapters 12-13. Those chapters are gloomy reading, mostly because the religious leaders did not know (at best) or did not want (at worst) what was best for people. They didn't realize it, but the way they responded to reality didn't match reality. That's what Jesus means when He says, "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn" (Matt. 11:17).

Our religious leaders—people we look up to—can be mixed up like that, to the extent that they mistake the work of God for the work of Satan (Matt. 11:18-19; 12:9-28). It can be confusing when someone you look up to thinks that God's work is Satan's work.

Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath (Matt. 12:9-14), after reasoning with the religious leaders that it was right for Him to do good on the Sabbath. It looks like they said nothing in response—probably there was nothing they could say. But they left knowing He had to die.

"Wisdom is justified by what she does" (Matt. 11:19)—that is, wise actions in general have good results—but the religious leaders ignored Jesus' logic (it is good to do good) and flipped the evidence  (supernatural healing) on its head.

The evidence said that He might be on the same wavelength as the God they claimed to worship. Because Jesus did not conform to their application of the Sabbath, they concluded that His supernatural power must be from Satan (Matt. 12:22-24).

(He did not abolish the Sabbath by healing. He says the Sabbath is a good time for healing. This is about how to live out the Sabbath, not whether there should be a Sabbath.)

They did not (could not?) imagine a valid application of Sabbath different from their own.
They did not (could not?) imagine God working in a way that violated their application of His words.
They did not (could not?) imagine that their application of Scripture might not be the only valid one.

And if you believe your application is the only valid one, it follows that the best thing that could happen for everyone is that they install your application of Scripture into their lives, right? It would be better for a man to suffer longer in the presence of a healer than to violate your application.

Jesus didn't agree. It was not, in fact, better that the man suffer longer. It was better that the man be healed.

Jesus' actions were wise and right. He saw what the religious leaders could not see, and He acted appropriately.


Religious leaders aren't the only ones who can be blind. I think they were mostly blind because they were humans, not because they were religious leaders.

I can be mistaken about what's best for people. I have been—I hate to count even the times I know about.

If God hasn't said yes to your request for healing/deliverance/blessing/guidance, His saying "yes" would probably be less good for you than saying "wait" or "no."

He wants to get you to a place where saying "yes" would be best for you—He is a healer, after all! But trust His timing with getting you to the "yes" place. Don't stop asking.

I am convinced that there are good plants God is growing in every one of us that require full shade, even the valley of the shadow of death.

Fear no evil; He is with you. Take comfort in His rod and His staff.

Goodness and kindness will surely follow you all the days of your life, even in the presence of your enemies. You will live in God's house forever.