Why even pray if it seems like God’s not there?
Do you ever find yourself thinking that?
I know what it’s like to ask God for something and to keep waiting for an answer. It’s easy sometimes to wonder if He’s listening at all.
But I’m also convinced that God sees our story from beginning to end and He knows exactly what He is preparing us for while we’re waiting on Him….even if we can’t imagine He’s doing anything on our behalf.
If you’re in the frustrating phase of trying to get God’s ear, I want to share with you, from my new book, When God Sees Your Tears, three sources of hope for you to hold onto during this time when God appears silent:
1. Hope in God’s Word – Did you know that God cannot contradict His Word? While He has guidelines in Scripture that are not necessarily promises, there are passages that contain promises that hold true as we obey Him. For example, 2 Corinthians 1:20 tells us, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (NKJV).
2. Hope in God’s Character – God also cannot contradict Himself. So when He says in His Word that He causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28), He will do just that. He will take care of what You put into His hands. The more you get to know Him, the more you will trust Him. The more you trust Him, the less you will doubt, worry, fear, or give up.
3. Hope in God’s Timing – God knows exactly when you are ready to receive the desire of your heart, and He will not act a moment too soon or a moment too late when it comes to doing what is eternally best for you. When you are in the long haul of waiting and you aren’t getting a yes, will you trust that what you might think is a no might really be His wait? He knows best. Therefore His timing is always perfect.
What are you hoping in or praying for, my friend? Please let me know in the comment section below and I’d be happy to join you in laying it before our Heavenly Father, the Giver of all good things.
To see more of God in my life to be able to hear him and experience his protection.
I hear you, Julissa. That is my prayer, too. Praying for you today, my friend.
What beautiful words, Cindi! It is so reassuring to know that He knows our whole story–past, present and future–and that He hears us. Always!
Thank you, Shelly.It’s always good to hear from you.
I’m learning the more I get to know Him, the more I know I can trust Him. You are so right about that. It’s good to know that the more I trust Him, the less I will doubt, worry, fear or give up! It’s very encouraging.
Thank you, Maria. Just this morning I started to be concerned about a situation and I had to remind myself that I should know by now that God can be trusted with it. He has never let me down before. How I wish our flesh would remember that. 🙂
Knowing Him more. I really want Him to possess me.
Thank you for your comment, Seun. Jeremiah 29:13 says “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” So we know that a desire to know Him more is a desire He will delight in granting us. (Psalm 37:4)
I’ve been praying and asking God to take my blinders off and deafness to Him. I truly seek to hear him and follow his direction for the path He has laid out for me but I’m really struggling to hear him and to know if it is coming from God or my own conscience.
Ilena, On my website I have some free articles about how to discern God’s voice, based on my chapter “Hearing God’s Loving Voice” in my book “Letting God Meet Your Emotional Needs.” They are located under Resources and Encouragement. I hope you find them helpful.
Thank you Cindi. This was strength to my soul.
You’re welcome, Brittany. 🙂
Thank you so much! I think I did read the article about discerning God’s voice and wrote down notes in my prayer journal and I’m having a very hard time quieting my mind down and to be still.
I am just having such a hard time waiting on God. It seems the wait has been forever. I am a single mom, divorced, and have been praying for so long for God to bring the right man into my life to share it with. I have been so lonely and so empty for so many years, even while I was married. I am trying to trust God with all my heart and learn patience. But, sometimes, I just feel so hopeless and frustrated that the special someone will never come into my life. It seems that there is just a huge hole and void in my life because I do not have that and have not had that fulfillment in my life. Thank you so much for listening to me. I am so grateful I have found your info on line to help me.
Hi Stephanie, thank you for sharing your heart. My first chapter in my newest book, “When God Sees Your Tears,” is called “The Missing Piece.” I think it would be very encouraging to you right now. You might be able to read a portion, if not all of it, at Amazon.com.May He fill you with Himself as you wait on Him.
Thank you for this encouragement Cindy! There is something on the internet about me that “everyone” has seen and even at church and work, people take my picture with their iphones to put it on the internet tomake fun of me. I know the Lord wants me to love me enemies, but I’ve really grown weary of being the butt of everyone’s joke.
Hi Lynn: I’m sorry you’re experiencing the cruelty of this world, even in the church. I an praying you will find comfort in Isaiah 54:17:”No weapon that is formed against you will prosper, and every tongue that accuses you in judgement I will condemn. This is the heritage if the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me.” In the second chapter of my book, When God Sees Your Tears, I encourage women to find their refuge in Him. If you are His, then your name is His name and He will protect His own.
Watch my blog next week for more on this topic of God defending His own… Apparently it’s something a lot of women, like you, are dealing with lately. Thank you for commenting and sharing a bit of your heart.
Such a good reminder Cindi 🙂 I take great comfort that my Lord has written my story, hears my prayers and answers them according to His plan for me….especially during difficult times. Praise Him that He is in control!!!
Thank you, Chery, as always, for your encouraging words.
i know that HE is my rock and HE is my Savior. I know i trust HIM. i have finally fallen in love with a very Godly man who is going through struggles himself right now. We both need prayer over our relationship and strength to wait to see what God has in store for both of us. I am struggling with anxiety lately more than i have ever had. i feel like the closer i draw to God, the more i am being attacked by Satan. I pray for continued strength through this “storm.”
I will pray for you, too, Shanna. know what it’s like to want to trust God but suddenly be bombarded with anxious thoughts. My prayer, lately, has been to just rest in His best for me. I am praying that for you, too, today. Thanks for being here and commenting.
My adult sons who have shared a fairly close relationship had a big falling out two years ago. My one son did apologize for things he said but my other son did not think it was enough and won’t let it go He is angry at me because I have a relationship with his brother and he feels betrayed. My head knows I can’t change his mind my heart is broken and I can’t see the lesson in destroying a family
Lynn, I’m sorry your heart is broken about what is happening between your sons. I don’t believe God is trying to teach you a lesson by destroying your family. Your pain is the result of your son’s choice to not forgive. But I do believe God can redeem this situation and draw you closer to Himself through all of this. Your situation is in my prayers this evening.
Please pray for my marriage to be healed and my husband to open his heart to The Lord again. I am trusting that God is gonna heal my marriage and bring my husband back to Him and to his family. People think I am crazy including my husband but I am trusting The Lord anyway for this until it’s over. He has filed for divorce but I am not signing the divorce papers and will continue to Trust in Him regardless of how hopeless it looks. Please pray that God will soften his heart and bring Him back.
Thank you so much for this article and for allowing people an opportunity to share and come for prayer!!
Love,
Sarah P.
Sarah, thank you for your unwavering commitment to your marriage despite what everyone else thinks. I know God honors those who honor Him, and their vows made before Him and others. Lord, would you redeem and restore this marriage in the name of Jesus for Your glory. And please protect Sarah’s heart through this process of waiting upon You. Sarah, please keep in touch and let me know how it goes. You can email me at Cindi@StrengthForTheSoul.com.
Thank you for your article! I’m really encouraged by that, as I know that I’ve felt like this too, sometimes. And I feel it’s always good to be reminded of these key points. I pray for patience, strength and faith as we wait for the answers to our prayers. 🙂
Thank you for commenting. I’m glad you’re encouraged. Blessings as you continue to wait on Him. 🙂
I have been praying for God to put the right person in my life for marriage. I am 46 I have had this dream ever since I was a young girl to marry. All my sisters are married with children. I feel so discouraged and frustrated. I looked after both my parents who have now gone to be with the Lord. I have never felt so lonely in my life. To just have a companion to go out with to love to be intimate with to talk too when I get home from work. God is silent its like my prayers are not being answered. I don’ t want to give up my spirit keeps telling me to keep going but I am just tired of waiting. I ordered your book today When God sees your tears. I hope it helps me to not give up. Thank you
Don’t give up, Rose. It is my prayer that the first chapter of “When God Sees Your Tears” will be particularly meaningful to you as you discover that God may just want to fill that missing piece in your life with Himself. Even those of us who marry find that our husbands can’t possibly be all we expect them to be or fill us completely. The most intimate relationship of our lives must still be that of a close relationship between us and our Lord. Please keep in touch and let me know how that book ministers to your heart.