Skip to main content

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

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Joy comes with the morning." Psalm 30

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!" Three days after Julius went home to the Lord, God had given me a promise. He had spoken to me from Psalm 77. Just like He had moved the nation of Israel, He was going to make a way through the deep waters of suffering that I was in. A way that I could not see, a way that I had to trust. I had to make a choice to move forward and believe that the waters would not drown me. (Is 43:2).  I had to believe Him. It is one year and 9 months and there are days even now when the waters seem to overwhelm and there are days when I see a glimpse of the path ahead. Through the prophet Isaiah He says: 'Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness...
5 comments
Read more

Thankful

Another first... Last year we had my Papa and Julius at the dinner table. Couple of weeks later my Dad passed away - slipped away in his sleep. Six months later Julius was gone to heaven. To be honest I have asked God "What are you thinking God?" "How do you expect me to move on with so much loss and grief?" And "What is coming next?" I confess that none of these questions are answered because they are not worthy to be asked. God is Sovereign, He is Creator and He is in control and I am so comforted by His Word. In the book of Job I read: But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?      What he desires, that he does. 14  For he will complete what he appoints for me,      and many such things are in his mind . Job 23:13-14. And again in Lamentations 3 For the Lord will not cast off forever, 32  but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love;  33  for he doe...
3 comments
Read more

The past 2 weeks

How do I describe these last 2 weeks of my life? May 7th, 2013 a seemingly ordinary day. Julius dressed for work in his new red checked shirt, and new flat front khakis. feeling good, looking great, bounding off to work with a huge smile and a hug with a promise to come home. Last conversation "guess what I read in the book of Jeremiah today" (always, always excited about God's Word) "don't put my pyjamas to the wash", (knowing my habit of throwing everything to the wash), helping me clear the room for the workmen who were coming that day to change the windows (my strong man),  "thank you for making my lunch" (always so gracious and thankful). 10 am - a call from work to say that he was not yet there. No answer on his cell phone - wouldn't have returned a call anyway because his phone was in the trunk of his car (safe driving habit). I just knew that something was horribly wrong. and then a blur of OPP officer at the door, phone call to Ale...
Post a Comment
Read more