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What if the answer is NO?


Photo Credit: Julius M. Location: Monastery Door, San Antonio Texas
Have you had the experience of hearing a word from God that later in the day makes more sense than at the time you heard it?
In Isaiah 65:24 the Lord says" Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear."

At a Jill Briscoe women's event yesterday Jill said something that intrigued me: "Do you have to see a prayer answered to trust God?"

She had also said to listen with your heart and God will tell you why you are here this morning. It was a lovely morning, catching up with old friends that I had not seen for over a year. Lots of hugs and tears and promises (on my part) to meet for coffee, when time permits.
I thought that was reason why I was there!!

But no - there was a bigger reason.

Later that night at my home - the conversation turned to prayer - specifically unanswered prayer.

Back to Sunnybrook hospital - on our knees in a room pleading, begging God for Julius' healing.

The answer was "no" and then there was silence from God. Utter desolate silence and despair.

Remember leaving the hospital completely numb. 

Shattered 
       shaken 
            moving like a robot...

Of course the Lord never left us - He was and is our provider and strong tower, By His grace alone did we go through what we did, and by His grace alone do we face each new day. 

But the very foundation of our faith had shaken.

This was not the God I knew.

So today as we pray earnestly and seek Him for our deepest needs, what if He has decided the answer is already NO?

How do you pray expectantly if at the back of your mind you think that it might have been decided that it is a NO? The longer you wait the harder it is to believe that He will hear. The easier it is to give up.

I struggled with this question.

Only the Lord could answer it for me.

So as I sat in my car on a quite side street before service started (I love quite side streets) and I had a heart to heart conversation with the Lord.

And He spoke to me.

"Will you pray till you get the answer from Me Joslyn?"

Will you "pray without ceasing?" 1 Thes 5

I realized that the bigger issue was not getting the answer to our prayers but our faith in Him.

Could we trust Him again?

"Do you have to see a prayer answered to trust God?"

Dear Reader are you waiting on God for unanswered prayer?  It has been a while since you heard from Him. Circumstances look bleak. 

Pray without ceasing - He always answers.

Never guaranteed that it will be the answer you expect or want, But guaranteed that it will be the best answer for you.

Comments

  1. Unknown18 January 2015 at 17:53

    Thank you

    -Danielle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joslyn18 January 2015 at 18:59

      Thank you for reading Danielle. I am so blessed and encouraged.

      Delete

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