God, Where Are You? - Encouragement for Today - June 22, 2026
God, Where Are You?
SHARON JAYNES
Lee en español
“Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’” John 11:40 (NIV)
Have you ever gone through a heartbreaking situation and wondered, God, where are You?
The loss of a loved one …
The crash of a car …
The devastation of property …
Sometimes an honest prayer sounds like, If You had been here, God, this wouldn’t have happened.
Two women in the Bible felt the same way — and they told Jesus all about it.
Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus, and He often stopped by their home in Bethany during His travels. I’d dare say they were some of His closest friends. Yet when Lazarus was sick, Jesus didn’t go to him right away.
John 11:6-7 tells us, “So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go back to Judea’” (NIV).
The sentence doesn’t say He “happened to” stay there two more days, as if it were a careless mistake. Jesus’ delay was part of a purposeful plan.
It wasn’t until after Lazarus died that Jesus returned to Bethany. When He finally arrived, Martha ran to Him, clearly brokenhearted, and said, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21, NIV). Then Mary said the same words (John 11:32).
Two sisters. One conclusion.
It’s hard when we read the stories in the Bible or hear about modern-day miracles and know God can do something, but He has not done it for us. I’m sure it was hard for Mary and Martha, who had seen Jesus do magnificent miracles, to understand why He didn't save Lazarus.
But sometimes a seemingly bad thing happens so God’s best can come from it. Jesus told the disappointed Martha, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (John 11:40).
Lazarus’ tomb was a cave sealed by a large stone. Nothing going in. Nothing coming out. Or so it seemed. When Jesus called for Lazarus, he came out alive.
God knows that in His hands, broken hearts like Mary and Martha’s — and ours — can become strong, stunning testimonies. He looks through the lens of process to view the finished product we cannot see.
We may think, If God really loved me, He would …
Answer my prayer.
Stop the struggle.
Rush to my rescue.
Send me a husband.
Make me fertile.
Give me the promotion.
And He would do it now.
Yet God frees us from our small, shortsighted interpretations and reveals a complex, multilayered story of redemption that makes our jaws drop. All the while, He is asking, Will you trust Me?
When we cry, God, where are You? His answer is always, I’m right here. Working out all of this for your good.
Father, help me trust that You always have a better plan for my life than I could ever come up with on my own. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
When’s the last time you caught yourself thinking, Wait … I’ve been here before? Not in a funny way — but in that moment when something feels a little too familiar. The same reaction. The same tension. The same outcome you thought you’d moved past. That moment matters more than we realize. It’s often where God is gently getting our attention. That’s why we created a free resource, “An Honest Guide to Getting Unstuck,” to help you recognize what choices and consequences might be repeating and why so you can begin to move forward instead of staying stuck. You can get the free resource today and take that first step.
ENGAGE
Sharon would love to hear from you! Click here for a free download of “Ten Verses to Assure You God Is Always Working Behind the Scenes in Your Life,” or click here to sign up for Sharon’s biweekly devotions.
To dig deeper into this topic, you can also check out her book When You Don’t Like Your Story: What if Your Worst Chapters Could Become Your Greatest Victories?.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
John 9:3, “‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him’” (NIV).
John 11:14-15, “So then he told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him’” (NIV).
Note the phrase “so that” in each of the verses above. What does that tell you about God’s purposes or how He works in our lives?
What difficult situation do you need to trust Jesus with today? Leave a comment, and let’s share.
© 2026 by Sharon Jaynes. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
