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Why Is God So Silent? By Robert Berendt We are instructed in the Bible to pray to God in all circumstances, but do we pray with the attitude "Your will be done"? God desires our trust and faith in Him to guide our lives along the path He has chosen.
lmost all people pray in some fashion or another. Sometimes real or imagined things happen that leave an indelible imprint on our minds. For me, an incident at about age 17 is one I never forgot. I was roused by the siren of a fire truck about a block away from the hotel room in which I was living. As I tried to look out of the window, I could not see anything except the twirling light of the fire engine. As I looked out into the night sky and saw the stars, I felt the urge to pray. I knelt down by the open window (not in view of the street) and began to talk to God. Suddenly, a fairly intense light blue light began to stream into the room; and the sudden change caught me totally by surprise. I could see no reason for this strange light and since it was right in the middle of my prayer, my mind went to the supernatural. I did what any man would do -- I leaped into bed, covered my head and promised myself never to pray like that again! I can readily understand how strong grown men literally pass out when they see an angel or something strange along that line (Daniel 8:27). Now, I am not Daniel and all I saw was a strange and unsettling light, but there are stories of people who have encountered God or an angel and were left with a lasting memory. I certainly do not feel worthy of any special attention from God or an angel.
You and I are not the first ones to have this thought. Nor are we the first to express our anguish, only to be met with silence. Your will be done The understanding of "Your will be done" was given to us by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Matthew 26:39 reveals the resignation Jesus expressed when His suffering and death loomed before Him. Psalm 22 is one of the most profound Psalms ever written in its description of the precise suffering Jesus would endure. He knew this was to be the path God had laid out for Him. Jesus expressed the thoughts we may have at the greatest time of anguish we may ever know. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" He cried (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46). In the second verse of Psalm 22 it is obvious that no answer came -- God was silent.
David expresses himself so very well we can almost feel his need. Psalm 6:6 is one part of his ongoing plea to God. He indicates he is weary with groaning and his couch is drenched with his tears. David also expresses his confidence in God. Verses 8 and 9 show he believed God heard and would answer. Ultimately, this is the place we must all come to. Although God loves His children with a strong, everlasting and fierce love, He is also developing something in us that can only be developed His way. When we say, "Your will be done," we need to realize that there is nothing too hard for God to do and nothing He would not do -- providing it would be good for us and it would fulfill His plan for each of us. His will is for all people to be saved in the ultimate understanding of this concept, and He works hard toward that end (1 Timothy2:4). God's perfect response I have thought about my prayers for God's intervention. I realize God sees the complete picture of my life in a way I cannot fathom. He sees my family, friends and the people I serve as a pastor. He knows what lies in my past, and He is preparing a place in the future. When He hears a prayer, He is in a position to make the perfect response. The response may mean allowing a person to die. Peter was told he would die in a manner that would glorify God (John 21:18-19). Peter did not know the details of what God had planned for him for all eternity. Peter's name would be forever inscribed on the foundation of the New Jerusalem -- the city of God (Revelation 21:14). Since all of the saints will receive a new name (Revelation 2:17), we may not see "Peter" written on that foundation. The language will, in all likelihood, not be English (Zephaniah 3:9).
God is the Almighty Creator and He is all wise. He can do anything, but He also has reasons for doing exactly what He knows is the best for all of His creation. His silence can only be something we need in order to further develop the character points of patience, trust, faith and perseverance. All of these traits are very good and necessary for us. God considers each person carefully and knows every hair on your head (Matthew10:30; Luke 21:18). His silence is an answer we need to understand. To understand more about what God expects of us as we follow His way, please read the free booklet Copyright 2006 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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Keywords: prayer silent God unanswered prayer
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