Do you sometimes feel distant from God? We all have at some point, and it can be tempting to think that our prayers never go beyond the surface of our ceilings. Sometimes it can strongly seem like God doesn't hear our prayers because He remains silent.
When people talk to my wife, it can often feel like she isn't listening because she doesn't say a word and is usually looking the other way. Yet when asked about that conversation, she can recall so many details from what the person says with pinpoint accuracy. People aren't used to it, but I am.
Sometimes God can be like that -- we feel like He's silent because nothing is happening, our breakthrough still isn't there or He just doesn't speak. And though God can be awfully quiet at times, it doesn't mean that He's no longer in control.
Here are some wrong implications about God when He is silent.
"He isn't fighting for us"
The many times we call out to God, we call out to Him to fight our battles. Most if not all of the times, God will be happy to fight our battles for us, but I don't think it's necessary to have Him making noise and babbling when He's making things work together for our good.
Exodus 14:13 says, "The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." In the midst of silence, God is still fighting for us.
"He isn't listening"
Exodus 22:23 tells us, "If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry." God has never been the kind of God to ignore. If there is anything He ignores, it's our arrogance and our pride, but our needs, battles and struggles are some things that He is always mindful of. God not only hears our cries, but He also knows our voice and our concerns.
"He doesn't care"
God is and will always be loving in nature because He is the same yesterday, today and forever. God cannot stop being loving just because He's annoyed by your laggy prayer requests. In fact, God continues to invite us to ask, seek and knock solely because He cares about you so much that He wants to hear about your dependence towards Him.
Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
"He can't do anything"
Just because God is silent doesn't mean he doesn't know what He's supposed to do. In fact, maybe the reason why God is quiet is because He's already working things out for you. Matthew 18:19 reminds us, "Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven." It is only through God that our prayers are and will most probably be answered.
