The Silence of Waiting…

When he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. (John 11:6)

What happens to our faith when that thing we prayed hard for doesn’t happen? We see an opportunity slip away we thought was ours. That illness isn’t cured. The list is endless of things we long for and seek God’s answers on. When there is no answer, do we assume God either didn’t hear us or doesn’t care?

As Christians it is one of hardest lessons to learn – patience and acceptance. Silence doesn’t always mean “No” – it can mean “Not yet,” but if it is a “No” are we able to accept that our Father in heaven knows what we need even more than we know what is good for us?

Remember the scene in “Bruce Almighty” when he decides to answer “Yes” to all the prayers coming in? The world went nuts, and rightly so. It is like giving every 2 year old yes to anything they ask for – we often pray with short term vision, asking what would be good for us now, but God answers prayer with long term vision, sometimes eternal vision, as the answers He provides are based on an eternal perspective.

Rest today in peace if you have silence in response to your prayers, knowing that God hears you even when it feels like He isn’t listening.