-Isaiah 40:31
Isn't this an amazing song that answers every cry of anger shot at God? Mary and Martha send news to Jesus, asking him to come at once. But Jesus, even after knowing Lazarus condition and being filled with love for that family took his own sweet time to visit them. He spends two more days in the place He was at and arrived four days after Lazarus had been buried.
Zillions of prayers go up every second. Some on bent knees; bowed heads and some with open arms looking skywards. Some prayers get answered even before the request is fully made while some, tax every string of your faith. The grateful never cease sharing testimonies of how good God has been. We hear, smile and feel blessed for serving an awesome God.
Then there are knees locked in a prayer closet that have gone without food or water for so long that you no more know what it is to be hungry and yet, the only voice heard is your own; the only touch felt is the tear rolling down endlessly. Amidst all this turmoil, in the silence of the Lamb, we are given "faith", the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen. God answers prayers. Not some but all. Not sometimes but, all the time. He decides how to answer and when to answer.
Abraham was 75 when God told him that he would be the father of a great nation but, it was only at the age of 100 that Sarah begot Abraham's child. David was anointed but was tested over a period of time before assuming the reins of power. Though God's favor was on Joseph who was wrongly serving a sentence of a crime he never committed, God did not get him out of the prison immediately. What about Job? What about the Israelite's? Don't tell me they took 40 years because they were a bunch of ungrateful people. You and I, too at a point in our lives have been just like them. But you see, though these people were blessed, though they had a special anointing, though they found favor in God's sight, they had in their life a period when heaven seemed silent.
There are times when God answers immediately. Like when Elijah asked God to send down fire and it was immediately done or, when Elijah prayed for the child's life to return to him. And then there are times, when it feels like God has simply forgotten us. But let me remind you that God said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you".
No one likes waiting. Be it for a bus or in a doctor's waiting room. Have you noticed the panic
outside a delivery room or, while waiting for the results to be announced? It is the same in God's waiting room. There are no short cuts in God's waiting room. There is nothing, absolutely nothing we can do about it but, the Spirit who is our companion helps. The Holy Spirit helps us grow during times like these. It shows us the myriad of things God has done for us. It helps us know the Lord. The more we see His faithfulness in our lives the more we understand our waiting is for a reason. God may be using the wait to build you up. God maybe using your wait to build someone else up. I see clearly how God is using His silence in someone else's life to build me up.
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My friend's mother is battling cancer. She had a relapse of cancer. I feel the silence of God in my best friend's life. The silence hurts so bad even though I share only a tiny part of his pain. I see how it has gotten me closer to God. I see how his pain is affecting so many get closer to God. How that family's faith is helping strangers understand this mighty God of his. Yes! I understand it is at his expense. But I also, see how much closer my friend is getting to God. I see the amount of time he spends with his God. Today, the only companion besides him is the Word of God. The only thing that gives him courage and puts a smile on his face is the faithfulness of God. Sure seems unfair, but God's plans are always for the good. We may not see it, we may not understand it.When Joseph was in the prison, the Lord was with him. Joseph knew God's hand was over him and he patiently waited. Isn't God's hand on you too? Has God not been good to you? Do not give up in this period of testing. God will take you where you need to be. He has designed it all very well. He will never give you more than you can endure.
Times when we are desperately seeking his voice, makes us examine ourselves. It helps us correct ourselves. It helps us surrender ourselves. We see people who get everything they want and wonder why God has turned silent on us. God does not play favorite. There is no partiality with God. Yet, in the silence, we can almost hear the enemy of our souls say God has forgotten us; we don't matter. At these times, we need to remember that God's ways are not our ways and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. God is a trustworthy God. You need to trust him and rely on his promises that He has something bigger and better for you. Do not lean on your understanding of the situation you are at. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
If God could make Abraham a father at the age of 100; if he could raise Lazarus from the dead after being buried for four days; if He can divide the red sea he can do anything. He made us. He made us for his glory. So when the heaven is silent, in the silence of the Lamb, be still and know God is still God. Praise Him for who He is - almighty, faithful, powerful, promise keeping God. Thank him for all He has done. Thank him for what is to come. Thank him for He has a plan for us to prosper. Ask him to fill you with the faith to believe Him.
There will be times when you will get an immediate answer from Him. There will be times when you will have to wait. Both are chosen by God for you. When the heaven goes silent, it is time for you to go silent and lean on him. Even when He is four days late, He is still on time.
