Ramy, you are crying out because God is drawing you. He pursues us--not the other way around. And what He begins, He always finishes. "I will perfect that which concerns you." (see also Jeremiah 29:11) Often, His silence is to prepare us for a deeper revelation of Himself. Do you remember this story from Luke 15?
22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
This woman cried for mercy but Jesus was silent. Then, He said something that seemed very harsh. Her response was not to turn away humiliated, but to pursue God with all that was within her. The silence and the strange answer caused her to focus even more on her need. And then, see what Jesus said: "O woman, great is your faith!" Can you imagine Jesus' joy when He said that to her?
The desert we find ourselves in has a purpose--to seek God out of our desperate need--not His gifts, but God Himself. Ask God to reveal Himself to you. He will always answer that prayer. But realize that He will take you through an Isaiah 6 experience. I mean He will reveal Himself, but the more you see His holiness, the more you will see your sin for how dark it is. Don't draw back, because there is great joy ahead!
Submitted at 11:00 AM on May 19, 2010 by Barbara
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God's silence
Ramy, you are crying out because God is drawing you. He pursues us--not the other way around. And what He begins, He always finishes. "I will perfect that which concerns you." (see also Jeremiah 29:11) Often, His silence is to prepare us for a deeper revelation of Himself. Do you remember this story from Luke 15?
22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
This woman cried for mercy but Jesus was silent. Then, He said something that seemed very harsh. Her response was not to turn away humiliated, but to pursue God with all that was within her. The silence and the strange answer caused her to focus even more on her need. And then, see what Jesus said: "O woman, great is your faith!" Can you imagine Jesus' joy when He said that to her?
The desert we find ourselves in has a purpose--to seek God out of our desperate need--not His gifts, but God Himself. Ask God to reveal Himself to you. He will always answer that prayer. But realize that He will take you through an Isaiah 6 experience. I mean He will reveal Himself, but the more you see His holiness, the more you will see your sin for how dark it is. Don't draw back, because there is great joy ahead!
Submitted at 11:00 AM on May 19, 2010 by Barbara