by Tim Hall

Seeing Jesus hanging on the cross was too much for the disciples to bear. It must have been especially hard for Peter, James and John who were with the Lord in the garden just hours earlier. Had they not heard Jesus praying fervently to the Father, asking that the cup be removed from His lips? Why had God not heard that prayer? If the Son of God can't get His prayer through to the Father, what hope is there for mere sons of dust?

The Hebrew writer speaks up to correct our misunderstanding. Speaking of Jesus, he wrote: "Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear . . ." (Hebrews 5:7, New King James Version). Obviously, the writer was referring to Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane. It was a prayer offered with "vehement cries and tears", and was addressed to the One "who was able to save Him from death". So why didn't God hear that prayer?

The Father DID hear that prayer, according to this passage. Our mistake occurs when we equate God's granting of our request with God hearing our request. That conclusion doesn't follow. It doesn't follow with earthly fathers and their children. There have been times when I have not granted my children's requests, but I certainly took the time to listen and to consider what they were asking. So it is with God, the epitome of Fatherhood.

James expands on this theme by urging us to "count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (James 1:2). Trials are no fun. They are experiences from which we yearn to be delivered. We pray long and hard that God deliver us from such trials. Yet it is undeniable that God's children are often allowed to remain in those trials. Why? Why wouldn't God release us from pain and suffering?

"Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:3,4). It is God's will that we be perfected in preparation for eternity, and the path to perfection frequently involves suffering and patience. There are no shortcuts in the refining of gold and silver, and faith is even more precious than these (1 Peter 1:7).

Our cries to God, even when offered with "vehement cries and tears", will often seem to fall on deaf Ears. Faith, however, reminds us that we will be heard because of our godly fear. When it seems that God is ignoring us, we must tell ourselves that things are not always as they seem.