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What Do You Do When God is Silent?

By: Joyce Averils
Submitted: 2007-09-07 14:12:42
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Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say on the Lord!
-Psalm 27:14

Do you ever get frustrated waiting for the things you want? We live in a fast-paced, "gotta have it now" kind of society. Sometimes, even Christians can get caught up in the hype, especially when they've been laying before the Lord with a prayer request that God seems not to have heard.

You know in your heart that God hears every petition you bring to Him. That does not mean, however, that God is going to give you an answer when you want it and how you want it every time. Sometimes, He's silent and the only thing you can do is prayerfully wait on Him.

God's silence doesn't mean that nothing is happening. Most often, He does His best work when He doesn't seem to be saying or doing anything. Think back over your life and the times He was silent. If your life is anything like mine, it was during those long times of silence that your relationship with the Lord really grew.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." God answers every righteous prayer request and every petition you place before Him in the right season for you. No matter how right something seems to you, if it's not the right season, the Lord's silence means "WAIT!"

I'll be one of the first people to admit that waiting can be difficult. However, it does not begin to compare with what happens when you don't. If you attempt to move forward without waiting on the Lord's best for you, you can end up frustrated and out of God's will. Instead of rushing ahead, focus on growing your faith and your patience.

Remind yourself that God often does His best work in our lives when He's silent.

My Challenge to You:
Have you been praying about something and you haven't yet received an answer from God? He hears you and your answer will come. Wait on the Lord!

© 2007 Joyce M. Averils

Want to use this article on your website or your own ezine? No problem! But here is what you MUST include: Joyce M. Averils, is a Bible Teacher/Speaker/Coach and author of The Busy Woman's Prayer Journal - My Guide to Daily Communications with God. Get your free mini-Bible Study, "The Beauty Trap - Where Do You Get Your Self-Worth?" at Refresh Your Faith - The Online Spa for Christian Women

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