God Heard You.
You've prayed and cried. Cried and prayed.
Still no answer.
Seasons have passed. Years have gone by.
No answer.
Queue the crickets..
It hurts when you feel like you're not heard, doesn't it?
It's a different kind of lonely when you start to doubt if God hears you. After a while you might move on, albeit in sadness, as you start to believe perhaps Heaven's silence is a sign of Heaven's rejection.
Or at least I did.
Is this what Zechariah felt?
The dedicated temple priest? Faithful in duty but denied fatherhood?
Called but childless?
God Wastes Nothing.
When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. ~Luke 1:5-7, New Living Translation
This man knew God. Loved God. Served God. And yet... crickets.
It's so easy to believe the Master of the Universe has forgotten about you and your little corner of the world when Heaven is silent. Easy to lean into the theories of family and friends about what seems to be your never-ending lack or loss...
"Maybe you didn't pray hard enough."
"You must have done something wrong."
"Perhaps it is time to move on."
Acceptance. It is the final stage of grieving something you never had.
But God wastes nothing, especially your words and in particular your prayers.
He Bends His Ear to You.
While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. ~Luke 1:11-13, NLT
Before the angel spoke of the promise, he addressed the more immediate and critical issue of his heart.
God has heard your prayer. ~Luke 1:11-13, NLT
God heard Zechariah. He heard you, too.
You love. Hard.
You give. Hard.
You serve. Hard.
You've prayed. Hard.
But even the most "sanctified" saints have to ask in seasons, years, decades of what feels like spiritual exile if their prayers are reaching Heaven or merely falling to the ground.
Let me say it again for the people in the back... HE HEARD YOU.
In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. ~Jeremiah 29:12, NLT
Sometimes, the most healing part of the path towards destiny is knowing your prayers are not lost on God.
The sincerity, transparency and vulnerability of your earnest appeals to the Father are not in vain. Your words turned into tears turned into moans have not fallen on deaf ears.
He bends his ear to you.
To you.
To YOU.
A Time is Coming...
If you then, evil (sinful by nature) as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him.. ~Mathew 7:11, Amplified Bible
I cannot say when the answer will come, how it will come, or what it will be.
I can tell you he heard and still hears you.
He hears your heart.
He feels your soul's intent and he will respond when it is good and advantageous for you.
So, don't give up.
When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son. ~Luke 1:57, NLT
Delay does not mean denial, so keep praying.
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7, Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
And remember I love you, but God loves you so much more.
PHILLIPA WILLIAMS
Author | Speaker | Ministry Coach
We break cycles here.
