The Pursuit: Chasing After Your New Life in Christنموونە

“When God is Silent.” Yesterday you read about following God’s direction. That is an exciting prospect, but it leaves an important question. What do you do when God seems silent? It’s going to happen. You are going to pray and sometimes He will seem to be strangely distant. When He does not seem to answer, what do you do? Look for an answer in today’s first reading. When God seems silent, you are called to go forward in faith. You are to continue to do the things that please God. You may, at times, become frustrated with God’s seeming silence, but you do not turn your back on Him. Verse six from today’s passage shows that you can be “confident” that God is working things out for you as one who belongs to Him. He is answering you, but you cannot see the answer yet. Why can’t you see the answer? There are a number of reasons why the answer may be hard to see. First, the answer could be NO. God could be denying your request because it is not in line with His will, His way, His glory, or your good. Second, there could be sin in your life that is preventing you from seeing God’s answer. When God seems silent, it is good to take an inventory of your life. Are you involved in things that are hurting your conversation with God? Third, the answer could be coming, but in God’s time not yours. God is not a vending machine. He acts in His own time and His own way. He acts for our best interests. We see that in today’s second reading. Take a few minutes to pray today. Thank God for having your best interests at heart. Thank Him for answering prayer. Ask Him to help you to focus on pleasing Him, even when you don’t get immediate answers. Remember to work on memorizing Luke 9:23.