subject: When God is Silent - Part 1 [print this page] When God is Silent - Part 1 When God is Silent - Part 1
'Waiting for God means power to do nothing save under command. This is not lack of power to do anything. Waiting for God needs strength rather than weakness. It is power to do nothing. It is the strength that holds strength in check. It is the strength that prevents the blundering activity which is entirely false and will make true activity impossible when the definite command comes.' G. Campbell Morgan
Moses, Job, Sarah, Abraham, David, all the prophets, Elizabeth, Paul... what do all these people have in common? They were all in impossible situations and even though they trusted God, they all waited seemingly interminable lengths of time before things changed for them. Some of them had to live with things that did not change for them.
They all loved God, they all did their best to please Him, they all made big mistakes. They were all under immense pressure. Why? That's the million dollar question. How many times do you find yourself asking that question in your own life?
I have seen miracles in my life, I know God loves me and that He can do the impossible, He has done the impossible for me more than once. Am I in an impossible situation right now? Yes. Does it hurt like hell? You bet it does. Steve andI have been married for 15 years and in those years we have loved God,done our best to please Him, we have made big mistakes.Wehave beenunder immense pressure.
So why does He answer some prayers and others it seems He doesn't even hear? Well, let's start from the beginning - He loves you, He is for you and not against you, He is able to do more thanyou can ask or imagine, if youpray according to His will He hears you, His promises are true, He does not lie, He does not change or alter according to whim, He does not manipulate or offer His love conditionally. But sometimes He is silent.
Why? The best place to look for answers is those people in the Bible who experienced this silence. Starting tomorrow, we are going to see how it was for them and what they did about it.
In the meantime, when you don't have answers what do you do? How do you stay sane? Don't carry the heavy load, keep giving it back to Jesus. You were not meant to be the answer to everything, if your life is His give it back to Him. You don't even have to put it into words, just offer Him you broken heart, your disappointment, your longing, your pain, your tiredness, your unsolvable problems. Keep giving them back to Him.
And know that you can have peace in knowing that He is big enough and strong enough to carry your burdens. You do not have to figure it all out on your own, you cannot be the answer to everything and everyone. Give it all to Him.
'Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with mewatch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.' Matt 11 v28, The Message
