Better.

You asked God for something, and you expected He would grant your request. But He disappointed you.

Why did you expect that something? Perhaps, because God did for others what you asked for. However, you may be the exception. It could be to benefit you more than the others.

Consider Lazarus.

John 11:1,3-6,11B,14,20-21,32-37,42B-45 KJV

[1] Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

[3] Therefore his sisters sent unto him [JESUS], saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

[4] When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

[5] Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

[6] When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

[11] [JESUS SAID,] Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

[14] Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

[20] Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

[21] Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

[32] Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

[33] When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled

[34] And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

[35] Jesus wept.

[36] Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

[37] And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

[42] because of the people which stand by…that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

[43] And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

[44] And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

[45] Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

Jesus healed many. Lazarus’ two sisters expected that Jesus would come and heal him too. However, instead of going to Lazarus right away, Jesus stayed where he was at, waiting for Lazarus to die.

How did Lazarus and his family benefit more by his death? Is it not worse to die than to just get sick?

Lazarus and his sisters were part of the community of believers in Christ, called “the body of Christ.”

1 Corinthians 12:26-27 KJV

[26] And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

[27] Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Because Jesus did more than just a physical healing, many believed on Him. The body of Christ benefited by more members being added to it. When Jesus’ body benefits, each member benefits. So Lazarus, Martha and Mary were better off than they would have been than if Jesus had healed Lazarus before he died.

The Psalmist experienced something similar.

Psalm 13:1-2, 5-6 KJV

[1] How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

[2] How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

[5] But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

[6] I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Trust God when He seems to be doing nothing to remove your pain. Look forward to what your suffering will lead to.