SEARCHLIGHT
What do you do when God is silent in the midst of your crisis?
SCRIPTURE
How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore, the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. Habakkuk 1:2-4 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
Violence was rampant. Innocent people were dying. There was a severe shortage of water, food, and medicine. Evil was prevalent. People were destitute. Arguing and fighting was the norm. No longer did people honor the laws of the land. The justice system was no longer respected. It had become perverted. Christians could not understand why God was not intervening in this dire crisis. Cries for God’s help appeared to be ignored. Why was God not delivering good and righteous people from this death pit?
The previous paragraph sounds a lot like something many Christians have experienced down through history. In fact, it is a description of many situations that Christians are facing today. Just talk to believers who have experienced the atrocities of war. Down through the ages, praying Christians have cried out to God, “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” In today’s Scripture focus, this was what the prophet Habakkuk had cried out to God.
What do you do when you are waiting for God to answer prayer? You are in the midst of a crisis. You are at wits end so you cry out to God. Surprisingly, there is no answer. God appears to be silent. You begin to wonder, “Are you listening, God? Can You hear me? Have you, God, turned Your back on me?” Obviously, you are not just impatient but frustrated. Perhaps you are on the fast track of discouragement leading to disappointment which can end in doubting God.
What should you do when God appears to be silent? What should you do when you are asking the question “How long, Lord?” What should you do when you feel like God is not listening? Here are 6 steps you need to take.
- Admit your feelings and thoughts to God and to yourself. You have serious questions. Don’t ignore them. Don’t deny them. They are real. Do not be embarrassed by them. Be totally honest with God and yourself. Many great Christians have struggled with similar emotions. The Psalmist David asked, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” [Psalm 13:1,2] Accusing God of having not acted soon enough to stop the affliction is a real feeling. God invites you to “bare your soul.”
- Decide to seek to know God more. Decide this time of silence is not going to separate you from God. Psalm 14:2 and Psalm 53:2 are almost identical verses encouraging you to become wise by seeking God. James 4:8 promises you that when you come close to God, He will come close to you. Come close to God by soaking yourself in reading His Word and praying. You have to remember Who God is and what God does.
- Pray prayers that Bible authors have prayed. Cry out to God the way they did. David prayed “To you, Lord, I call; you are my rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your most holy place.” [Psalm 28:1,2 NIV] Pray other Psalms as found in Psalm 62:1,5; 83:1; and 42:1-5.
- Remember that God sees the beginning and the ending. His perspective is so complete. Realize you cannot see the whole picture. This may cause you not to be listening while God is really answering.
- Remember God’s timing is perfect. Ask God to help you to accept His timeline. God keeps perfect time. He is never early or late in answering prayers. The Bible says, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” [2 Peter 3:8 NIV] “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” [Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV]
- Look for reasons why God is waiting. Ask God, “What do you want me to learn?” Keep a prayer journal. God is in control. He is sovereign. Recall past blessings from God.
One author said, “The major theme of Habakkuk is trying to grow from a faith of perplexity and doubt to the height of absolute trust in God.” God wants you to trust Him in a world that is filled with affliction and injustice. He will “work with you.” God is patient and understanding. But never forget, regardless of what is happening, God is “working for you!”
SOMETHING TO DO
Take some time to implement the 6-step process to answer the question WHY DOESN’T GOD ACT? Do not rush this. Invite God the Holy Spirit to illumine your heart, mind, and emotions.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, make Yourself known to me. I admit I have been asking You, “How long, Lord?” My spirit is heavy. Help me, loving God. I need You more than ever before! AMEN