Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– J.C. Ryle
Working Behind the Scenes
The silence of God is not the final answer of God. Silence doesn’t mean God has forsaken you. It could mean He is working all things together for you, which is something He does in our lives anyway (Romans 8:28). God may be seeing how patient (or not) we’ll be in the silence. Just like faith is best developed in the dark, hearing God’s voice is best heard in the silence. Maybe waiting makes us learn to trust God more.
Will It Hurt Us?
When my oldest son once asked me for something, I had to stop and think about it. Was it really best for Him? God will not give us something with which we’ll hurt ourselves. A knife is not a good toy for a child. God knows what will hurt us; and as our Heavenly Father, He knows better than we do what we need, even before we need it.
The Persistent Widow
Even an unrighteous judge was finally worn down by a persistent widow. The judge finally gave up and said, “This widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming” (Luke 18:5). Jesus’ point is in the form of a question: “And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily” (Luke 18:7-8a). So we “ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Don’t quit.
Something Better or No
We must accept “no” as an answer. If we don’t, we’re telling God we know better. We must realize God is infinitely wise and has already been to the future and back. He knows if somethings is good or bad or if there’s something better.
Conclusion
Jesus hears us and in His own good time will give an answer. But we cannot say God does not answer prayer because even a “no” is an answer. By my age I have discovered that some of the greatest answers to prayer were “no.” God knew what would have happened and said, “No my child. I know you think you want that, but this will hurt you. I love you, and I don’t want that to happen to you.”
