Wednesday, August 3, 2022

IN SILENCE

“I cry to You for help and You do not answer me; I stand, and You only look at me.” Job 30:20

We all know the story of Job. The Bible tells us that this man from Uz was blameless and upright. He feared God and shunned evil. When Satan questioned Job’s loyalty to God, our Heavenly Father gave Satan permission to mess with his possessions but not his body. Job lost everything he had, but his story has a happy ending. Job 42:12 says that the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. Before that, however, in this 30th chapter of the book by the same name, Job pours out his soul as his days of affliction take hold of him. His bones are piercing him, and his pains take no rest. He feels cast into the mire – like dust and ashes.

At some point in our lives, we all experience pain and suffering. And if we are truthful, we must admit that there are times when it seems like God is silent. If you’re like me, maybe you wonder sometimes even if He is listening or if He sees what you are going through. We are not alone in this thought pattern. The Psalms provide proof of that. For example, Psalm130:1-2 says, “Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. Psalm 86:1 says, “Incline your ear, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and oppressed.”

What do you do when you lay your burdens at our Father’s feet, but He is silent? Maybe the answer is in pausing to reassess your situation. Is God silent or does He just SEEM silent? John 5:17 says that Jesus and the Father are always working.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, sometimes the cares of the world get me down. There have been things I have prayed and prayed and prayed about, and it seemed as if you weren’t listening. I felt like I wasn’t getting my prayer “through.” I praise you for Romans 8:28 that says all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Thank you for reminding me that you are always working on my behalf, especially when I cannot see you moving. Help me to always keep my eyes and ears open. Keep me in your Word so that I am sensitive in your “silence.”