I have been taught that God wants us to pray to him about everything, but sometimes when I pray, I feel like God is not listening. I pray and pray and nothing seems to change. There is total silence, like today. Crickets. I can’t help but wonder if God has finally given up on me. I hope not.
I do believe that God is listening and does answer our prayers, but many times I think that the listening problem is with me, not him. Have I been listening to what he has been trying to tell me? Probably not. Have I rejected his answer, because it is not what I want to hear? Most likely!
Talking to God through prayer is the easy part, but listening, receiving and accepting his answer can be difficult.
John 10:27 (NLT)
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I believe that we know the voice of God when he talks to us, but we don’t always acknowledge it as such. When I am looking for guidance from God on how to deal with a situation or person, after I pray, the first place I go is to the scripture. It seems to me that everything you ever want to know about how to live life is already written in a handy little guide book called the Bible. Sometimes it takes a while to find it, but the answer is there.
I think that God also answers our prayers through other people, and at times it comes from the most unlikely source and the answer may not be obvious at first. Several weeks back, I was having a particularly ‘down’ day and I went to Target. The young man at the check out stand was clearly disabled and challenged with communication skills. As I walked up to the counter I said the obligatory “how is your day”? He responded eloquently, “Everyday is a great day, some are just better than others”. He is right of course.
The most difficult thing about listening and accepting God’s answer is faith and trust that he know’s what is best for us and it may not feel good today, but there is great promise and hope for tomorrow. He is in it with us in the long run and hears every word we say to him. He will answer, one way or another. Shhhh, listen....
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths.
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths.
I think this is really accurate. I was told that when one is praying you are talking to God, and when you are meditating, you are listening. I think I do a terrible job of listening to God, but man o man am I ever good about asking him/her for stuff. God, please get me out of this, God, please help me figure this out, God, please help me understand why this is happening to me . . . and so on and so forth.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that God has not and will not forsake me . . . or anyone else for that matter, who turns to him/her for help, openly and honestly. I also believe that sometime we don't listen to the answer, or the answer is no, and it is those times where I struggle the most. Acceptance is key! Thanks, Colette. this are gems, all of them are gems. I'm grateful for the time and effort you put forth to write and send them. You are speaking to me . . . or rather God is speaking to me through YOU!
may your words go viral! and comfort and edify all who read them.
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