Hand to Heart - Diane Cheveldayoff

Hand to Heart

GOD’S SILENCE MISUNDERSTOOD

written by Diane Cheveldayoff

Am I the only one who feels silence from God? In these days of so much change I often find myself asking: Does God hear my prayers? This is not an uncommon question and is one I’m sure every one of us can relate to at different points in our lives. When things are going well and we have no doubts or concerns, this thought does not enter our minds, but when things are unsettled and it is hard to see beyond today, the question becomes relatable for us all.

When I am burdened by God’s apparent silence, I remind myself that God’s time is outside of my time and that He knows what is best for me. God is always there, and He always answers His children, just maybe not in the form we envisioned or the time we thought was most appropriate or even thought that we needed. Yet, He will reveal answers to us when His time is right and, what’s more, when those answers will benefit us the most.

One way we can appreciate God’s ‘silence’ is to remember those times in our lives when, in hindsight, we can recognize that God was working even through those ‘silent’ times. The old saying of ‘hindsight is 20/20’ is real and reveals areas that we should capture, recognize, and hang onto, as God is showing us that He really does answer our prayers - sometimes we just can’t see it at the moment. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with Him in whatever you do, and He will lead you wherever you go.” (TPT) We may not understand ALL that God has for us, but we can trust the outcome as we lean on Him completely. Once we submit an issue to God and rely on Him, then He will give us peace even through the turmoil.

If you are like me, I long for glimpses of how God is working. When I feel like I am not getting those glimpses of how He is currently working, I dig deeper and pray to trust Him – to trust that He does hear me and know that He cares deeply for me. I’ve learned that I must be patient, and that I must remember the glimpses of His glory that He has shown me in the past. All these are hard realities for me at this stage of life. The prophet Jeremiah says, ‘“For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”’ (29:11 NLT) I have to claim these promises daily, keeping my faith rooted in His Word and reminding myself He is faithful and always has been.

One area I struggle with trusting God is my finances, though He has proven Himself faithful to me in this area many times. Often, I must remind myself of those times of His faithfulness. For example, from early in marriage, just starting to learn the principles of tithing, I determined that my husband and I didn’t have the money to tithe, yet out of obedience, we did it anyway. As we stepped out in obedience, God not only provided what we needed, He provided through another source the exact amount that we had tithed. This is only one example of Him providing financially in an inexplicable way. Based on logic, this would be considered impossible, but God doesn’t always operate on logic. It is by His mercy and His grace that all things are possible.

When I am struggling to hear Him, I know I can draw upon these times of provision when He has showered me with glimpses of hope that I KNOW are true; I’ve seen it and I’ve lived it. My belief is based on reality and experience. I know He has shown His power and faithfulness to me before, and I know that He will again.

When you think God is silent, reflect on the many times He’s shown you glimpses of how He is working and hears your prayers. I’m sure if you do, you’ll remember those times when He was answering but you just didn’t hear Him. Even though I don’t know you, I know that God has answered your prayers in the past, and because of His faithfulness He will answer them in the present and the future. Because that is who He is. Even when we can’t see His Hand, we can trust His Heart.