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When God stays silent

Penned on March 6, 2012

I bowed my head. Discouragement burdened my heart.

Jesus, please speak to my heart. Help me hear. Guide me. Show me what to do.

But all was silent.

Sitting alone
Creative Commons License photo credit: vonderauvisuals

And I wondered if He was even listening.

I wondered if He still cared.

Had I slipped between His fingers and fallen from grace? Had I stepped out of His arms of mercy?

Was I lost, and I didn’t even know it?

This tactic of satan isn’t anything new. In fact, it’s probably one of the oldest tricks in the book. He’d love to make me question anything and everything I know and hold to be true. He’d love for me to begin to question God.

But I refuse.

The Word reassures me (Matthew 10:30). He knows me (John 10:1-19). He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). He loves me (Romans 8:38-39).

What to do when God stays silent.

Are you in that kind of rocky place right now, where you’ve prayed and prayed but it seems like God is ignoring you? Hold on. Help is on the way.

God’s timing isn’t the same as ours. He doesn’t move or work in human ways. His ways are higher than ours. In the meantime, here are some things to do when God is silent.

1. Walk by faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). It’s easy to talk about walking by faith when everything is good. But when you feel like you’re struggling just to make it day-by-day, that is when faith kicks in. Keep praying, waiting, watching expectantly for God to move.

2. Give thanks. You cannot give thanks and remain sad. It isn’t possible. The more thanksgiving you offer to God, the better you’ll feel. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of all He’s done for us. Giving thanks is the best way to remember.

3. Pray. A lesson I’m still learning is take it all to Him. We can talk to friends and try to figure things out all day. But there are some things we’ll never understand (probably because it isn’t meant for us to). I can’t tell you how often I’ve messed things up doubly by talking about situations with everyone except Jesus. Instead, take it to the Master. He holds the answer. Best of all, He’s ready and waiting to listen.

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When everything goes {wrong}

Penned on October 4, 2011

“I’m just disappointed.”

I listened to my friend that day as she unloaded a heavy burden. Life does that to us sometimes, doesn’t it? Circumstances take us by surprise and overwhelm us until we’re nearly paralyzed.

It’s in moments like these when it is imperative that we cling to Jesus.

prayer changes things

Source: josephpetepickle @ Flickr

No matter how perfectly well your life might seem to be, there will always be some sort of adversity that will gobsmack you right in the kisser. If you aren’t rooted and grounded in Christ, those blows can knock you to your knees.

And when they do, and you’re on your knees, that’s the best place to be.

When everything goes wrong and you can’t shake that overwhelming feeling that God is overlooking you (and your problem), turn to Him.

If you find it difficult, here are some truths to hold on to…

  • Jesus loves you.
  • He wants what is best for you.
  • He is in control.
  • There is nothing too big or hard for God to do.
  • His ways are higher than ours.
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5 Ways to Jump-Start Your Prayers

Penned on July 9, 2011

“I don’t even know how to pray anymore!” Those startling words echoed in my mind.

 An early morning call revealed a disturbing family crisis. It was a call for prayer, but it sounded like so much more. This trusted saint of old was distraught. She felt as though she didn’t know how to pray for her situation.

Trouble’s pain has a way of bringing us to our knees. In the throes of pressure, prayer seems impossible. Futile.

Ever been there? We all have. 

Praying Angel
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When words fail you–when you feel like you can’t pray anymore–keep an open mind and heart before God. He sees and knows your needs. He understands your brokenness. Keep your eyes on Him.

Psalms 86:6 (MSG) says it perfectly, “Pay attention, GOD, to my prayer; bend down and listen to my cry for help.” It’s easy to feel like God is ignoring our supplications, when the situation doesn’t quickly change.

Remember, “…we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, KJV).

5 ways to refresh your prayer life, when you feel like you just can’t pray anymore:

1. Write a letter to God. Sometimes it’s easier to write on paper what we feel deep inside, rather than to actually speak the words aloud. So write a letter. Write raw. Write real. Write truth.

2. Sing a song. One of the best ways to uplift your spirit is to sing a song of praise to God. Psalms 100:2 speaks of singing ourselves into His presence. Turn the radio on or play your favorite CD and sing along. Make a compilation CD of all your favorite worship and praise songs. Prayerful singing lifts the soul in a way nothing else can.

3. Go for a walk. Walking is spiritual exercise. Your body gets the physical exertion; your mind cleansed. Get out for 15 minutes. As you walk, focus on the marvelous beauty of God’s hands. Drink in the small blessings. God will enlarge your vision of the bigger blessings in your life.

4. Meditate on God’s creation. Bring tools on your walk and become a God-journalist. Photograph a blue bird, as he lights for a brief rest. Capture the wonder of a newly budding wild rose in watercolor. Sketch a delicate butterfly. Write a poem about the

5. Be creative. We were created by an Artist (Genesis 1:1). Why not allow the Great Creator to create through you? Don’t over think it; just create. There are endless ways to immerse yourself in prayerful creativity: collage, finger paint, knit, scrapbooking, sewing. Creativity is a simple way to connect with your Creator.

What is prayer?

There are many types of prayer. Don’t limit yourself to praying out loud. Especially if you’ve felt distant from God lately. Think of prayer as a means of connecting and communicating with God, your lover.

If you’re married, there are moments when you communicate with your spouse and never speak a word. Holding hands, a knowing look, weary sigh.

Yes, you need to talk to God. But don’t limit your communication with Him to this one form of connection. Learning to connect with God on all sorts of levels will strengthen your verbal prayer life and walk with God.

{I originally wrote this some time between 2004 and 2005. I’ve moderately edited the piece, but the advice holds true still today. I pray this encourages you to find new ways to connect with our loving Father, especially if you feel like you just don’t know how to pray anymore.}

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Do You Make These 6 Mistakes When You Pray?

Penned on July 1, 2011

A personal relationship with Jesus is created and deepened through prayer.

Please don’t think your prayer time is a waste. It isn’t. But there are important prayer issues I feel we need to think about. Stay with me a bit longer and let me share my heart with you on this topic.

Ethiopia: Innocent Prayers of a Young Child
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Mistake #1: Feeling alone. You are never alone. Even when it feels like your prayers are bouncing off the walls and ceiling. Jesus promises He will never leave us. Never abandon us. You. Are. Never. Alone. {Hebrews 13:5}

Mistake #2: Afraid to ask for what you need. Have you ever had a true need (not a “want”) but felt unworthy to ask God for help? Did you feel your need was too simple, too small, for God to be concerned or bothered with it? Well, it isn’t. He holds the supply. Just ask. {Philippians 4:19}

Mistake #3: Neglect thanksgiving. This is, in my opinion, something that is forgotten way too many times. God has already done so much for us. His blessings abound. Yet we are needy. Count your blessings. Count your gifts. Remember to first give thanks. {1 Chronicles 16:34}

Mistake #4: Speak too much; listen too little. There are moments of prayer when there is much to be said to God. I have no doubt He is every bit as eager to listen to us, as we are to speak to Him. But do you become quiet also, so you can hear what He needs to speak to you? Often, God speaks in a still, small whisper. Listen for His whisper. {1 Kings 19:11-13}

Mistake #5: Hyper-focused on self. How often do you remember to pray for others? Do you keep a prayer list especially for this purpose? If we aren’t careful, we can become selfish in prayer, forgetting the needs of others and only praying for ourselves. Job prayed for his friends, and God restored him twice over what he had before. Pray for others. {Job 42:10; Ephesians 6:18} Allow God to pray through you. {Romans 8:26}

Mistake #6: Giving up too soon. We’ve all been there. We pray continuously for a specific matter and it seems like God is deaf or just isn’t paying attention. So we give up. We assume God doesn’t want to answer that prayer. But is that really so? Jesus told a parable of a persistent widow who would not give up. She returned to a judge day after day, asking for justice. The judge finally grew so tired of her persistence that he obliged her. Be persistent. Keep the faith. {Luke 18:1-8}

What are some other ways you can change your prayer approach?

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Filed Under: Spirit
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