How do we explain God's promise, "Ask, and it shall be given to you," in light of Christ's delayed response in the story of the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1–45)?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-08

In the Coptic Orthodox perspective, the apparent contradiction between the promise "Ask, and it shall be given to you" (ⲙⲁⲧⲉⲩ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲩⲉϯ ⲛⲱⲧⲉⲛ) and the delay in the raising of Lazarus is resolved through the understanding of Divine Wisdom and Providence.

As His Holiness Pope Shenouda III and the Church Fathers often taught, a "delayed" response is not a "denied" response.

1. God Delays but Does Not Neglect

As mentioned in our traditional teachings on prayer, "God delays but does not neglect." In John 11, the sisters sent word saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." They asked for healing. Christ did not ignore them; He responded, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God."

The delay was not a lack of concern but a preparation for a greater gift. If Christ had healed Lazarus immediately, he would have been saved from physical pain. By delaying, Christ saved the sisters from spiritual stagnation and showed the entire world His power over Hades. God gives us what we need for our salvation, not always what we want on our schedule.

2. The Purpose of Persistence and Patience

The delay in responding to Martha and Mary serves as a "wake-up call" and a test of faith. The Church teaches that a delayed response produces saints. This is seen in the lives of the fathers:

• Abraham waited 100 years.
• Isaac waited 20 years for a child.
• Rachel had to learn "great patience" before her womb was opened (as noted by St. Ephrem the Syrian).

Christ allowed Lazarus to die so that the sisters’ faith could be stretched. When He finally arrived, His response was "beyond worthiness"—He did not just give back a sick brother; He gave back a man who had already begun to decay, proving He is ϯⲁⲛⲁⲥⲧⲁⲥⲓⲥ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲱⲛϧ (The Resurrection and the Life).

3. Asking for a "Stone" vs. a "Loaf"

Christ told us that if a son asks for bread, a father will not give him a stone. However, sometimes we ask for "bread" (a quick healing) when God wants to give us the "Whole Banquet" (the revelation of His Divinity). Martha and Mary asked for a doctor; God gave them the Creator.

In our prayers, when we say "it shall be given to you," we must understand that God answers according to His knowledge of what is profitable for our souls. He gave the sisters their brother back, but He gave him back in a way that guaranteed their eternal salvation and the conversion of many Jews.

4. The Agony of the Delay

We see in the Gospel that Christ Himself was "troubled" and "wept." This shows that He is not indifferent to our suffering during the "waiting period." Even Christ, in His humanity, prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane with such earnestness that His sweat became like drops of blood. The Lord Christ taught us to be persistent in prayer (as in the parable of the persistent friend in Luke 11).

The "delay" in John 11 was the setting for the most earnest prayer and the deepest manifestation of faith. As the Book of Revelation says, "Here is the patience of the saints."

5. Sovereignty and the "Appointed Time"

A response with a promise is often fulfilled at an appointed time. Just as a parent promises a child a gift upon their success in school, God often holds the answer to our prayer until the moment we are spiritually ready to receive the magnitude of the blessing. Christ delayed so that "the Son of God may be glorified through it" (John 11:4).

In summary: God always responds to the prayer of the faithful. In the case of Lazarus, the "No" to a quick healing was actually a "Yes" to a glorious resurrection. We ask for the temporary; He gives the eternal. We ask for the manageable; He gives the miraculous.