One of the first things a new believer learn about prayer is that God answers them. “Ask and you shall receive” they are told. “Seek and you will find”, they are admonished. “Pray without ceasing”, they are encouraged.
…But what about when God doesn’t give you a “yes” or “no”? What about when God is just plain silent on something that you have eagerly, anxiously, desperately poured out before Him? What about that issue, the one deep down in your heart, the one that many other weaknesses stem from, the one that you keep going back to hoping that God will do something with or about….?
I have one of those… For me, it’s the one that when I hear “God is good, all the time. All the time God is good”, I secretly, deep down, find myself questioning His goodness. If He is good, why hasn’t He said something at all? Anything!
This Christmas God brought this little (read: HUGE) problem front and centre. I found myself railing against Him in anger, bitterness, and frustration, and He quietly reminded me of this truth:
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.” (Isaiah 43:1-3a)
Whether or not God ever deals with this issue, and I’m sure He will, my security and sense of peace does not depend on His answer or how He works out this issue in my heart. …My security lies in the truth of who God is. He is, by very nature, good. He has, by very nature, redeemed us. He will, by very nature, walk with us through the waters, rivers, and flames. …And these things do not change because He is, by very nature, unchanging. He is the Lord our God, the Holy One of Israel. Our Saviour.
And, whether or not God ever deals with this issue, I don’t believe prayer to be only about receiving answers but about coming to grips with who Christ is. If prayer was only just about God answering me, then we are doomed–God doesn’t revolve around us! Spurgeon said that “Prayer and praise are the oars by which a man may row his boat into the deep waters of the knowledge of Christ”. Prayer is the way our view of God is grown. I pray, not only to hear from God, but to also know God!
As I look at the coming year, as my eyes stretch across the horizon of 2014, I have this strong sense that this will be a big year of God working out the very crux, the very specific area of weakness in my heart. And I internally cringe a bit because my flesh recognizes the cost of uprooting the lies and sin that keep me clinging to the false god of “control and security”. But my spirit soars at the thought that my faith will be without borders. That no matter the answer I get from God on any topic, I will have a quiet and confident heart because of who He is. Not because He gave me an answer, but because I saw God. I came to understand a little more, how wide and long and high and deep is His love.
Be encouraged when God is silent. …Even in that He is there. Continue to walk forward. Continue to call out to Him. Continue to ask Him to grow your understanding of Him. He has never failed, and He won’t start now. He will walk with you through whatever 2014 brings. He has called you by name and you are His.
What you’ll find here is a collection of musings, thoughts, writings, and ramblings about things I’m reading, watching, and thinking about. It’s my goal to inspire, encourage, and instruct my fellow sisters in their walk with Jesus and their understanding of the Word.
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Ms Erica, should you find yourself read this I want to thank you. I found myself questioning why He wasn’t talking in the way I’ve heard Him. I’ve been able to distinguish His voice through the last few months of trials and rough..times..as of right now I’m going through a bit of an “Eye in the storm” moment, but I don’t hear. I’m going through a patience moment. And..well, I’m not very good at being patience. One thing is waiting, it’s another thing to be patient. To be content with waiting..I’m not good at that. After reading this I realized that I needed to be content with it. That my security and joy doesn’t depend on things apart from Christ. And I questioned myself on how I should be happy? The answer was simple. Christ crucified. Paul preached that as a lesson of it wasn’t dependent on the factor that Christ did miracles, but that he died so that we may live. When Paul and Silas were in prison and they were singing, they weren’t singing hoping to be freed, they were singing because they were freed through Christ already. I need to have that kind of attitude. And I’m thankful I stumbled across this.
Thank you.
Danny, thank you for your note! I am glad the Lord saw fit to use this little article to encourage you. May Christ continue to lead and guide you, and May He satisfy the deepest longings of your heart as He sanctifies you. 2 Thess. 3:5