Jesus was performing a miracle to raise Lazarus from the dead, but in His conversation to His Father, we notice how He thanked Him for always hearing Him.

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

John 11:41-42, KJV

Jesus was performing a miracle in this passage, raising Lazarus from the dead.

And He started with lifting his eyes (to heaven / sky), thanking God the Father how He has heard Him.

And how the Father has always heard Him (Jesus the Son).

We can see that Jesus the Son, has an intimate relationship with the Father. As evidenced from how the Father always hears Him.

And the same could possibly be said about, the relationships between all three persons in the Godhead too. That they are all closely knitted and united together.

Please refer to Trinitarian Doctrine article, for a recap on roles between the three persons in the Godhead: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

And for us as Christians, it is also important to have an intimate relationship with God.

Please refer to 1 Cor 13:1 article, and Luke 23:42-43 article.

Where we are able to hear God’s voice clearly, and He hears us in our prayers too.

Please refer to Prophetic series, for hearing God’s voice.

Jesus gave us the promise that He hears us, when we pray too (Matt 7:7-8, Matt 21:21-22, John 14:13-14).

And there’s power when more people gather to pray on something (Matt 18:19-20).

But we should not use prayer as a means, to twist God’s arm to get what we want.

Not that God does not care about our desires and preferences.

But when we put Him first, He will ensure all our needs are met (Matt 6:33).

Please refer to Dan 3 article, on how God prospered Daniel’s friends when they put Him first.

Indeed our lives are to do the will, calling, and purposes of God, and we should yield to Him.

Please refer to Psa 73 article, Ezek 3:4 article, A Fresh Encounter with God article, and Key Truths to Unlocking the Five-Fold Ministries article.

And hearing His voice, doesn’t just mean passively listening, but doing what He says also (Matt 7:24-27, John 10:27-28).

As seen in this verse, Jesus asked the Father to hear Him.

Meaning that He actually wanted the Father to grant Him the healing miracle, and not just passively hear.

Another thing we can observe from this verse, is the submission that Jesus the Son has to the Father.

Although they are all equally / completely God, they play different roles, where the Father has the authority.

And we can learn submission to God from here too, as even Jesus submitted to the Father’s authority.

And we can trust Him to lead us to safety, even in unfamiliar situations / terrains we may be navigating in life.

Please refer to Isa 43:18-19 article.

Because our God is a God of impossibility, He raised Lazarus from the dead in this passage.

Please refer to Dan 3 article, for how God delivered Daniel’s three friends too from an unseemingly doomed situation.

And even if we have walked awry, or have wasted many years on something, God can restore those lost years / efforts.

Please refer to Joel 2:25 article.

Finally, one last thing we see in this verse is Jesus lifted His eyes, when praying to the Father.

This is because God the Father, is in heaven, far above all the universe. He currently dwells there, even probably before the universe was created in the beginning.

This is not to be confused with heaven / heavenly city in Luke 23:42-43 article.

But one day, after judgment day, He will come and dwell among His people in the heavenly city (Jerusalem). Because of His love for His people, you and I.

In fact He is already dwelling in us, through the Holy Spirit, the third person in the Godhead (please refer to Joel 2:28-29 article).

Previously throughout the history of Israel, God dwells in either a temple / tabernacle.

Future restored Israel will have a large earthly temple too, although heavenly Jerusalem would not have a temple as it is replaced by God’s very presence.

Please refer to 1 Sam 1:5 article, Psa 73 article, Hos 6:2 article, Amos 9:11-12 article, and Luke 23:42-43 article, respectively.

But now He dwells in us, for our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20).

But why did He have to lift His eyes to the sky / heavens, when He was actually in a cave (v38)?

Firstly as noticed above, it was an expression of His submission to the Father and His authority.

And next, He knows the Father sees Him even in the cave.

Similarly God sees us all in our daily lives too, even in situations / areas when no one else sees us.

Because God is all-seeing (omnipresent) and all-knowing (omniscient) (Psa 139:1-12).

So we have to be careful, to pursue righteousness even in our own private lives, because God sees.

And to not be like the Pharisees, who put on a good show outside for others, but inwardly has no regard for God and His laws.

Please refer to Matt 11:28-30 article.