For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. — Isaiah 55:8
There is one thing that I hate when I am facing a difficult time or a challenging situation. That is, to be alone. There is nothing worse than facing a trying time in life and finding yourself with no one to talk to or ask questions of.
Especially when facing tough decisions. I always want to try and listen to other people’s opinions and hear what they have to say. I want them to share their own experience and help me make a choice that will perhaps keep me from a difficult situation.
There are times that I have found myself in a situation where I pray and talk to God, but it seems like He is not there. Even though scripture tells me He is always there, it’s as if He is not listening or refusing to answer. When I find myself in these times, I have learned that I must take a step back and look at the situation.
Sometimes I find that I am praying for what I want to happen. But as the verse in Isaiah says, my thoughts may not be His thoughts and my ways may not be His ways. Sometimes the things that I ask for are not what God would want for me. Or perhaps those things that I ask for are not His will.
Other times, I have found that I may not be praying truly asking for His help. Perhaps I say the words, but I really do not mean it with my heart. I may say I want His help, guidance, or direction, but deep down I was not serious. I have learned God wants to help, but He is looking for me to be serious about it. Or perhaps even He is wanting me to simply be patient, waiting on Him.
So those times that it may seem that God is silent, perhaps it is a good time to take a step back and look at the entire picture. Is He teaching us something like patience? Are we serious about our request? Are we praying for our will and not God’s will? While it may seem that God is silent, He is listening and many times He is simply waiting on us to have our focus in the right place. It is worth taking a look at things from a different perspective.