What do you say when it’s already been said? What do you write when it’s already been written? What do you pray when it’s all been prayed before, an answer already given, but no peace in your soul? Do you keep talking, keep writing, keep praying, or do you listen? Do you wait in the quietness of your heart and allow God to speak?
What if He doesn’t answer? What if it’s not the answer you want? What if He doesn’t even hear you? Would He turn you away because of a blockage in your heart? A sin unconfessed or a relationship unmended? What if you doubt? Does He still listen or does He turn a deaf ear? How do you know if your prayers are heard, or if they’re even worth praying? What if you’re praying for the wrong thing, for what you want instead of what God wants? If you pray for what you want but it’s bad for you, might God still grant it? Or if you don’t ask for something that’s good for you, will God deny it?
What about when two people pray for the opposite things? What if Union generals and Confederate generals were both praying for victory? Were both fighting in Your name? Didn’t the Confederates fight for God and country, protecting their families, their way of life, and their values? Didn’t Union soldiers fight to free slaves, to right wrongs, and to reunite a broken country? How does God decide?
Could it be that what seems best to you is only second best to God? Does He not promise to work all things together for our good? Is that the miracle then? That God can work what is best for you, and at the same time, it is best for everyone? How can we ever grasp that? The great puzzle solving ability of God? How could He put the world together so that not one piece is missing? How could there be no mistake? Not a single atom missing. Not a single law of nature flawed. No cracks in time. No spatial anomalies. No wrinkles in the time-space continuum. Does that amaze you? Shouldn’t it?
If we, with our small minds, can’t even understand time, a dimension, something that can be measured, analyzed and reconfigured, but not understood, how can we possibly expect to understand the mind of God? Could it be that God’s ways are too complicated for our minds to understand? Have you ever tried to explain physics to a cat or right and wrong to a horse? Is not God’s greatness compared to ours much vaster than our greatness compared to the animals’?
Have you considered that what looks good to you, God knows would only be to your detriment? What would it be like if we, when denied our desires, lit up in smiles and thanked God for whatever better thing He has in store for us? So what do you say when it’s already been said? Write when it’s already been written? Pray when it’s already been prayed? Doesn’t the Bible command you to pray without ceasing?
But what is prayer? Is it talking to God? Or is it talking with God? Do you ever let Him in on the conversation? If He wanted to get a word in edgewise, would He be able to? Isn’t it right that nothing is too difficult for God? Yes, but do you really want to be working against Him? What if He has something to say to you? Are you listening? Do you even pause for breath and wait for a reply? Do you think God wants you to spill all your problems on Him and then leave without giving Him a chance to solve your problems, to give rest to your weary soul, to reaffirm your worth because of Christ? Have you let Him do that?
Why do you think your prayers seem unanswered? Are you really looking for the answer? Have you written someone an e-mail and are upset because they haven’t replied? Have you checked your e-mail? If God knows what we’re asking before it’s asked, could the answer already be in your inbox? Have you checked lately?
Is something on your heart?
Six intercessors will pray for your request for 21 days.
