When you think God isn’t listening: A Conversation

You can rest assure that hard times will fall upon you and when they do what is one of the first things people tell you to do, “Pray about it.” Like that is some magical, mystical cure all solution that will somehow, someway take all of your problems away. Your reply, “I’ve prayed about it, but God isn’t listening because nothing has happened. I’ve been asking, and asking and asking; doing my due diligence to be obedient, yet to no avail; nothing.



Then what’s the second thing people like to say, ‘Well you just have to have faith.” Faith; faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. So basically what you’re telling me is that I should be hopeful for something that I cannot see. Is that like hoping for a new bike for Christmas, knowing that you’re on welfare and you’re not quite sure how the light bill is going to get paid this month?



Then what’s the third thing people like to say, “Well everything is in God’s time, you just have to be patient.” Patience, is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance/anger in a negative way; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. So I should be patient for as long as it takes, not knowing whether or not there is actually light at the end of the tunnel?!



Then what’s the fourth thing people like to say, “Well this is only temporary, God never said that there wouldn’t be any rain,” if there wasn’t any rain how could you ever appreciate the sunshine.” Are you serious? So what you’re telling me is that I have to endure hardships in order to appreciate good fortunes. I am grateful every single day of my life because when I look around I see people struggling every where and I look at them with empathy, and quietly say to myself thank you God for that could be me.

Even Jesus got upset, got mad, threw things around the church because he was disappointed at what he saw. He even asked God why did he forsaken him? These were words of desperation that captured Jesus' soul in agony as he hung upon the cross. He had been beaten with rods, spat upon, mocked, ridiculed, carried his own cross, nailed down, hung exposed before a jeering mob as his life ebbed away.

In this moment of desperation, he beared the weight of our sin so we could become God's righteousness. He felt abandoned, forsaken, betrayed, and denied by those who were closest to him. He even felt abandoned by God, he wanted God to deliver him from this horrible moment. So if the son of God can endure such unthinkable hardships, so can you. Now I know what you’re saying, “well I’m not Jesus.” Jesus was sent here for a divine purpose, he had a mission to fulfill and so he was made strong to endure. But keep in mind Jesus was still human, he breathed oxygen just like you in order to live. God is in all of us and although sometimes it’s not always apparent that God is listening, rest assure that he hears every whisper, every cry, every single word you utter. In this lifetime sometimes all you can do is simply hold on. God is listening, and how do I know this you ask? Because you are still here searching for answers that no one else can answer, but God. The real question is, “Are your ears, heart, and mind open to receive what he has to say? and “Are you willing to do whatever it takes once you hear his response to your request?” Acceptance of God’s word is something that many people cannot grasp because they are too busy concerned about what it is that they think they want and need, or they think that they know what’s best for them. So the next time you find yourself wondering if God is listening, ask yourself are you.