Silence

There are times when we pray and pray and pray and we hear nothing.  No yeses, no noes, no waits....just nothing.  No definitive signs one way or the other, no steps to take, no desire or nudging to cease praying....just silence.  It can be very frustrating and discouraging.  Sometimes I begin to feel as if God isn't even listening to me, as if my prayers bang against a steel ceiling and fall back to earth, un-received and unheard.  But I know that is not true.  He always listens and He is always with me.  The Bible promises! 

What do we do then?  Where do we go with our prayers, our hopes?  As I was praying again for a solution to my situation (I'm really starting to have a hard time with my job, physically it's becoming more and more difficult, but I'm not in a position to leave or retire), the only thing that rose up in me was the parable of the persistent widow.    

Luke 18:1-8   One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”  6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

So there was my answer.  "Keep praying."  This is where that "active faith" comes in.   Praying, believing and trusting, never doubting God's plan even though we are not hearing answers, the road is long and difficult and heaven seems to be closed to our prayers.   

This morning I woke up with Mercy Me's song "Even If" in my head.  And as I sit and listen to it now, the tears flow freely, but hope and faith rise in my heart.  He is faithful and He is good.  It is truly well with my soul.  I may not see answers, or solutions, I may not even get the answers I want.  I may feel unheard, but I'm not.   And neither are you whatever your circumstance, whatever you are facing.  God hears, God loves and God has the best plan.  Our job is persistent  prayer and  persevering  faith.  

"Jesus,. I will cling to You come what may."  This is my cry.  Lord, You are good.  I trust You.  I know You have good plans for me.  Thank You that You answer and work things out in just the perfect time.  And thank You for growing my faith.  

Spend time praising and thanking the Lord for unanswered prayer, actively give Him your trust.