He's Waiting to Hear from You
Imagine a friend in a desperate situation. He has 90 days to raise $50 million or lose his wife and family. He starts with a plan and pours himself into it. He’s determined to find a solution. After thirty days, he has $12,000. Considerable, but far from a $50 million pace.
The weight of his need is overwhelming. Desperation is only numbed by hopelessness. As the reality of his own limitations settles upon him, he shares his only option with you – to ride the wave of his circumstance to either a crushing conclusion or some unforeseen and unexpected miracle.
You remind him that you have a mutual friend who is a multi-billionaire and who deeply loves him. He says he knows. Though he has not asked. The billionaire friend must certainly know his plight, though he has not intervened. Asking might be awkward. What if he didn’t help, or only offered advice? There might be serious strings attached – obligations the friend could not imagine fulfilling.
Clearly, the scenario above is fictious. Yet, if we replace the billionaire friend with God, how often is this scene a reality?
The parents of a prodigal son who is living in a foreign country in an alternative lifestyle. They seek advice. They’ve tried talking to him. They offer resources. They have even asked others to pray. But they are not praying. They are not asking God directly.
The husband, whose wife has been unfaithful and now she’s unsure she wants to be married. He’s begged. He’s bargained. He’s in a support group. He’s asked for prayer. He’s met with the pastor. He’s broken-hearted. But he’s not praying.
The wife, whose husband is in rehab for the third time. She’s scared. The uncertainty is paralyzing. Friends and family offer contradicting advice. She’s joined a Bible study. She’s trying to trust God. But she’s not praying.
The young man, whose life has been shattered by a devastating diagnosis. He’s going to a world renown specialist. Others are praying for him. He’s hoping against the odds. But he’s not praying.
Perhaps you’re facing overwhelming odds. Your back is against the wall. Your heart is breaking over circumstances you can’t control.
Are you facing a situation only God could change?
Perhaps you’re still reaching for straws, trying everything imaginable. Perhaps you’re deflated, just watching and waiting.
Are you talking to God?
Are you asking Him directly for help?
Are you listening for his answer?
The Bible is full of stories of God intervening in seemingly impossible situations. Malachi 3:6 tells us that God does not change. The God who spoke the world into existence, led Abraham out of Ur, changed the heart of the swindler Jacob, delivered Joseph, empowered and restored David, and gave wisdom to Solomon is hardly overwhelmed by your circumstances. The God who loved you enough to send his son into the world to redeem you through the cross does not change. He still loves you that much.
Though He wants to hear directly from you. He does not simply want to be trusted from afar. He wants a personal relationship that includes conversation, especially about the issues and circumstances that most concern you.
Faith is dependent trust. That means trusting that you can depend on God even, especially, when there are no clear answers. Prayer is the litmus test of faith. If you’re engaged in every aspect of faith except prayer, you’re missing the boat.
God is closer than you think. In fact, He’s most likely more interested and involved in your situation than you know. Though he will not shout over the noise and chaos. We get the impression that God is not listening when we’re desperate, because hearing Him takes more focus than we’re giving. Our distractions keep us from hearing His whispers.
Why is He whispering?
Because He wants a personal relationship, not a command-and-control relationship. Our level of attention expresses the depth of our commitment to Him and trust in Him. It’s in carving time out of our chaos to speak and listen to God that we show Him that we trust Him. His shouting would reflect something less than the intimacy He wants with us. It’s in locking our focus on Him that we find peace when facing uncertainty. His whispers encourage us to do so.
So how do we give God our undivided attention during a raging storm?
What do we say and how on earth do we hear a whispering God when the noise of our circumstances is so loud?
In my next post, I’ll go into my own practical, though perhaps unorthodox approach to hearing God when life resembles a hurricane. For now, invest some time the next few mornings into sharing the details of your situation directly with God. Of course, He already knows the details. Though you parents will understand why He wants to hear them directly from you. He loves you. He’s waiting to hear from you.
Thanks for Reading,
John