Psalm 88:1-3 says, "O LORD, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night. Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry. For my life is full of troubles, and death draws near." When we experience difficult and painful situations, we are tempted to question God and doubt His goodness. One of the questions we ask is, "Where are you, God?" or "Why are you allowing this difficult situation to happen to me?" Some of us feel that God has rejected us, especially when we feel that God is not listening to our prayers. Psalm 88:14 asked, "O Lord, why do you reject me? why do you turn your face from me?" The Psalmist who wrote this Psalm felt dejected by God because he had been praying continuously, and his situation had not changed. He even felt that God was against him. He said in Psalm 88:16-17, "Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me. Your terrors have paralyzed me. They swirl around me like floodwaters all day long. They have engulfed me completely. You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend.'
What should we do when we feel that God is silent in our prayers? We have to keep on doing what the Psalmist did—he kept on praying and trusting God. Even when we do not understand what God is doing, we have to trust in His goodness, and in due time, He will save us from our situations. We have to keep on reading our Bible, for God speaks to us through His Word. God promised us that He would never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Think of the experiences that we had in the past when God saved us from our desperate situations. If God has faithfully taken care of us in the past, He will surely take care of us in our current situations and beyond. I remember when I was in desperate need of a job or deep financial need, and God provided me with everything that I needed. God has always been my help in times of need.
Let us not give up on trusting God even when we feel that He is silent or has rejected us. God never rejects us as His children. He answers our prayers according to His purpose and plan, and He will carry us through our difficult situations. He is always there for us, experiencing our pain also. Let us continue to persevere, and we will eventually make it through because God is with us and for us.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What should I do when I feel like God is silent? Why is it important to keep on trusting God in our difficult situations? What are the things that I need to do to hear God's encouragement and promises?
Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for always being with me, no matter how I feel about you in my difficult situations. When I am in doubt, you remain faithful to me. When I am confused and angry, you remain patient and loving. I will never fully understand your ways because you are bigger than I can imagine. Please help me to trust and believe that you are with me and that you are working on my difficult situations behind the scenes. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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