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When Disappointment Meets Jesus

The words caught in Martha’s throat as she approached Jesus on that dusty road.

Her brother lay dead in a tomb, and four days had passed. The body had already begun to decay. She said to Jesus,

Perhaps you know that feeling, the heaviness of if only.

Those two words carry disappointment, unanswered prayers, and the ache of silence when you needed God most.

The Pain of Divine Delay

Martha’s grief was real. Jesus had healed strangers, yet He delayed when His friend was dying.

By the time He arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been buried for four days. To Mary and Martha, the wait must have felt like abandonment.

You may carry similar questions:

Where was God when my marriage crumbled? When the diagnosis came? When my dream collapsed? I prayed with faith, yet why did the door close anyway. Why did this thing happen? If only this had happened?

We ask what Martha asked: Why didn’t You come, Lord? The silence can feel like rejection.

The Shift Between Two Sentences

Yet something happened as Martha talked with Jesus on that road to Bethany.

Then, in the next breath she uttered,

Between those two sentences, something shifted.

Martha moved from backward-facing grief to forward-facing faith.

In the presence of Jesus, light pierced her darkness. Her heart opened to possibilities beyond her understanding.

Maybe that’s where you stand today: between if only and even now.

“If only” thinking keeps us trapped in the tomb of yesterday’s disappointments.

But, “Even now” thinking declares that resurrection miracles are possible.

The Power of “Even Now” Thinking

Saying, “Even now” changes things.

It declares that God can redeem what looks irredeemable. It affirms that His delays are not denials.

It invites us to look beyond the sealed tomb to the miracle that waits.

It says God can take those impossible things and turn them for our good!

It says all things are possible if we can believe!

Martha stood two miles from her brother’s dead, decaying body and said, “Even now.”

She acknowledged her grief, yet reached for hope, trusting what she could not see.

This kind of "even now" faith moves mountains!

Gratitude Before the Breakthrough

As I was studying this, I saw another thing that was fascinating. When Jesus arrived at the tomb,

The shortest verse carries one of the deepest truths: He feels our pain.

And then, Jesus did something else I had never noticed before either.

He gave thanks. He said,

In that moment, Jesus (as a man) expressed gratitude that His Father heard Him--you know really "heard" him.

Heard His heart, His pain, His tears, and even regret. Jesus was thankful for the relationship, and that Father cared and understood.

Jesus knew His prayers would be answered before He saw the tomb open because of this relationship.

Even thought He hadn’t seen the miracle yet. And Lazarus’ body still lay wrapped in burial cloths.

Yet, Jesus thanked His Father before the miracle.

This is idea of gratitude is something we often overlook in difficult waiting times.

It was only after Jesus prayed with thanksgiving that He called out, “Lazarus, come forth!”

And the dead man walked out of the tomb.

He Hears You Too

Your Father hears you too! He hears your pain, your disappointments, expectations, plans that haven’t worked out, and dreams that feel buried.

He collects your tears, and holds them near His heart! He hears you--really hears your heart!

Thank Him that He hears you, that He’s working in ways you cannot yet see.

Begin to thank Him even before you see change.

Jesus didn’t wait for the miracle to be visible before He gave thanks.

His gratitude opened the door for the impossible to become reality.

Your Miracle Might Wait For Gratitude

Friend, your story isn’t over. The tomb you face may look final, but you serve the God of even now.

He specializes in resurrection and redemption. He turns endings into beginnings.

• Your failed marriage can become a ministry to the brokenhearted.
• Your loss can lead you toward your true calling.
• Many times our troubles are more about our inner healing than anything else.
• Your delay can prepare you for a greater miracle.

This kind of gratitude is a practice that can truly unlock miracles:
​Thank Him before you see the change.

Thank Him that He hears and cares.

Thank Him that He holds your pain and gives you strength to face the day.

Thank Him that He works all things together for good.

This is faith in action! This is gratitude spoken before the breakthrough.

It moves us from “if only” to “even now” thinking.

It lifts our eyes from the stinky tomb to the horizon where new life rises.

Your Next Step

1. Today, take your disappointments to Jesus. Give Him all your “if onlys.” Let Him hear your heart.
2. Ask Him to show you the even now you cannot yet see. Then pause. Wait for Jesus’ presence to shift your perspective.
3. Thank Him because He always hears you and loves you! Expect a miracle, for He is already working in ways you may not yet understand, even now!

Gratitude before the miracle prepares the way for the manifestation of the miracle.

Friend, the tomb is not your final destination. Resurrection is.

Even now you are meant to walk in victory!

With love and prayers,
​

Cynthia Johnson, Deeper Walk Ministries, Inc.

P.S. This teaching is adapted from my newest book, When Thank You Isn't Enough: Fresh Biblical Insights on Gratitude That Break Barriers & Bring Breakthrough.

Many of you followed my journey with my first gratitude book earlier this year.

Since then, the Lord has continued to reveal new truths.

So, I've restructured and rewritten much of the content, added many new stories, and included new insights He's shown me.

The paperback is available on Amazon now, with a full launch coming soon.