Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore? — Isaiah 64:12
My wife and I often laugh because it seems like our son never closes his mouth. Since he had his cochlear implants and started to hear, he has fallen in love with talking. He wants to talk to anyone and everyone. He can walk by a stranger and it’s almost guaranteed he will say hello. People often chuckle seeing this kid who has never met a stranger.
The issue is when he is silent. My wife and I often get worried when he stops talking. Most times, it’s short-lived. He will be silent while he is reading something or watching something. But sometimes, he gets quiet, and it’s odd. We get worried something might be wrong, or if he is not near us, we start looking for him.
That’s often how it goes for us in life in our relationship with God. There are times God will be silent. There are times He won’t feel as close to us as He did at other points in our walk of life. Usually, we react the same way my wife and I do with our son. We immediately start wondering if something is wrong.
We start asking God questions like “why” or “where are you?” We say things like, “how long can this go on?” Or perhaps we ask the question, God, how long are you going to be silent?! That’s certainly the place Isaiah writes from here. The question was, in essence, “God, are you going to do something?”
But sometimes God is silent. It is not that He doesn’t care. It’s not that He doesn’t love us. It’s that He is testing us, strengthening us, and preparing us. The times that God is silent in our lives can be some of the most challenging. But don’t doubt for one second that God cares, God loves, and He knows exactly where you are and what you are going through. There is a purpose to His silence.
Jared Dyson
Another Well Ministries
I have felt this way many times- then I tell myself I’m not worthy anymore of being heard, but I stop that feeling and try again and again! Until I feel that peaceful response to “Be still!”
Psalm 69 13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. 14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. 15 Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. 16 Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. 17 And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.
And he hears me.
Instead of “be still”, He usually tells me “chill” and I have no other choice but to do so. When the Creator of ALL things says to chill, I get a peace that surpasses understanding.
So many are in distress— I see it, I understand the chaos our country is in, but don’t necessarily feel it.. we can stop the evil designs of men, but we can prepare ourselves spiritually…
Amen 🙏
...King David knew how to pray....
I believe that we often shut God off on our end. He is not silent, we just don't hear him.
God's love and wisdom showers down upon all mankind equally...
...the problem is, most of them are using "umbrellas".....
He is also watching us and what we do. He wants to see if we hold on to faith. Like the people who were going around and around for 40 years because they never held faith.
...and ended up as dried bones whitening in the desert sun....
........and the tree was happy.........
“Don't play what's there, play what's not there.”
About a week ago I posted something very similar to this.
https://greatawakening.win/p/16aANCZ7Js/for-the-religious-folks-that-may/c/
God's will is working...
...even if we can't see or feel it...
...God's will is working....
How do you know when you feel Gods presence ?
John 10:27
King James Version
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Praise God!
Thank you for this on this Sunday...it is what is NEEDED right now and it is perfect...
God bless you
This does resonate. I'd like a comprehensive breakdown of these 2 views... - 1. The view that God tests us, brings or allows trouble to come our way. 2. The view that it is satan doing these things and our faith is the only defense, so if things are going bad it's our own fault, not God testing us.
I've almost gone bipolar trying to find out which one it is
...both of your assertions are true...
...read the story of Job...
Pss.66
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: 19 But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
...everything in context....
Absolutely in context.
AND absolutely in full.
[11] Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. [12] Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water
God sends fiery trials. And when does God hear prayer?
[13] I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows, [14] Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.
After ^ repentance. Beforehand, while," I regard iniquity in my heart," "the Lord will not hear me"
...I must be missing your point, which is?
That God doesn't abandon us, when he is silent.
We have abandoned him.
Fiery trials are promised to those who are his 1Pet.4
2Cor.6
The purpose of fiery trials?
Pss.101
....him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
Pss.34
Please understand that I was not criticising your statement as wrong.
I think it was more of frustration at the attitude of modern day Christianity that God is a Santa Clause in the sky, handing out toys to his children on request. The whole point is that he mostly sends what we need, most times not what we want.
And that is not hidden from anyone who spends time reading the Scripture - it is the main theme:
Luke.9
...May God richly bless you Pilgrim...
And I pray his blessings may be upon you and your family.
Can the same be said about Q?
...howls...