Weekly Newsletter March 18

March 18, 2023

How to Hear God's Silence
When Prayers Are Not Answered

Three bright, wise, and trusted community leaders devoted themselves to follow God's ways. When the King demanded that everyone worship him as if he were God, they refused. As punishment, the King ordered them to be thrown into the furnace alive.

The furnace was no threat. The three declared bravely, "We do not need to defend ourselves before the King. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us."

Bound and thrown into the fire, the three still believed God would save them. When the King saw them walking around in the fire, he was astounded. He saw four men in the fire, and the fourth actually looked like a god! God did save the three! You can read the whole story in the Bible's book of Daniel, chapter 3.

We may often pray for God's help but we don't see it coming. It's as if God is silent, and we wonder if he has even heard us. Is God even there? Does God even care?

God's silence does NOT mean God is absent. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abnedgo (the three wise young leaders) knew that too. Their story reminds us to keep trusting that God is working even when we don’t see it. God did not show up until they were in the middle of the flames. In our lives, we may not see or hear God's answer to our prayers until we're already in the operating room, or even after the therapy ends. Or in the courtroom, or even the prison.

Don't stop praying! Don't close your ears to God or his Word in the Bible. Trust what he’s already said. Keep listening. Keep seeking. That’s how to hear God’s silence.

In the end, King Nebuchadnezzar made another demand: "There is no other god who can rescue like this! Anyone who speaks against the God of these three men will be torn from limb to limb!" Even Nebuchadnezzar changed his mind. So can the strongest and proudest among us today. There is no other God who can rescue, heal, guide, provide, save, lead, and give life like the God of the Bible, who came to us as Jesus and dwells in our hearts as the Holy Spirit.

Great God of Heaven, thank you for coming to forgive us through Jesus who died on the cross. Thank you for coming to us as the Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts. Continue to restore us, guide us, teach us. Help us to love others as you love us. Help us to give ourselves sacrificially, as Jesus did, so that all people may experience your life-changing love. In His name we pray. Amen.

Please scroll down to see what great things you can do to love, serve, and engage!