Many of us may be in ferent prayer for months or even years for a loved one or for a particular situation, but when God is silent, what then?
Do we:
Quit praying or pray more fervently? Promise in Scripture – The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16)
Become depressed with God’s silence or seek to learn what God is teaching us through His silence? Insight in Scripture – The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. (Pslam 34:17) Even in His silence, God is teaching us to trust, to have patience, and to persevere. Do you remember back in school days when the teacher distributed a test, placed it face-down on each desk, and said, “No talking. This is a test.” And for the remainder of the hour the teacher never said a word and the students dared not to speak. The classroom filled with utter silence. And like the teacher, God is always silent during a test.
Do we:
Give up; lose all hope or consider maybe God is silent because He is listening to what is on our hearts? Encouragement in Scripture – I wait for the Lord, my soul wait, and in His word do I hope. Do you realize the word listen contains the same letters as silent?
Grumble or complain how God seems to answer another person’s prayer, but not mine? Solution in Scripture – Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the Law of Christ. (Galations 6:2)
Do we::
Get angry with God? Guidance in Scripture – But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to Him who formed it “Why have You made me like this?” Does not the Potter have power over clay? (Romans 9:20-21)
Become preoccupied with the ‘why’ of God’s silence and turn to something or someone else for answers? Wisdom in Scripture – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Become flipant about prayer to a holy God by giving God clear instructions on what we want? Warning in Scripture – God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)
Should we:
Worship while we wait? Assurance in Scripture – But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
Susie Larson, host of Susie Larson Live on Faith Radio, engaged in conversation with Kyle Strobel, author of “Where Prayer Becomes Real: How Honesty with God Transforms Your Soul.” I would like to share an exerpt from that conversation. Kyle writes, ” Whatever is on our hearts – hidden sins, deep and unmet longings, pains and sorrows long left hidden – God is calling us to pray. God wants to hear what He sees because He is always at work in reality This is the fruit of the good news of prayer.” Kyle goes on to say, “I’ve learned that just because God seems silent doesn’t mean He is absent. He’s incredibly near to the broken-hearted. He wants to hear from you. He loves you.”
There are seasons when God seems to whisper to our hearts less often, but it is exactly during those times when He teaches us to rely on what we know to be true.
Waiting is the working out of hope!
Whatever you are facing, my friend, bring it to the Lord. Speak to Him. Be honest before Him. Trust that He hears you. Take refuge in His faithfulness and know that behind every heavy silence is a mighty God who loves you!
See Susie Larson’s complete dialogue with Kyle Strobel “When God Breaks Your Heart” at https://myktis.com/2021/08/when-god-breaks-your-heart/