What do you do when if feels like you call out to the Lord continually but don’t hear an answer — Is this a trial of faith? Is it not God’s time for an answer? Am I asking the wrong question? Does God not care?
With the psalmist we cry:
Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
I’m sure we can all relate to these out-crying moments — but how do we get to the praise of psalm 18 and 28:
“I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer”
“To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, do not refuse to hear me.”
“To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, do not refuse to hear me.”
One of my favorite teachings on prayer comes from Walter Wangerin Jr. He teaches prayer as 4 acts of conversation: 1.We speak. 2.God Listens. 3.God speaks. 4.We listen. Simple, and a fifty percent guarantee. The reality that God will listen and speak is a given, leaving the onus on me to carry out my part.