As we learn to depend more fully upon Jesus, God begins to purge us of our selfish desires.
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The Silence of God Series – Article 4 of 4
In this final article of a four-part series on Hearing God, Nancy McGuirk eloquently describes “waiting on God” as a way to hear His silence. She explains that it is a way of beginning to hear what God is trying to teach us when He seems not to respond to our prayers. She reassures us that most people feel disappointment with God at some point in their lives. If we turn to Him in prayer, and listen to Him through His Word, He will transform us. Nancy reminds us that God always has our best interests at heart, no matter what we are going through.
Waiting is a way of hearing the silence of God. As we wait before Him, we begin to hear what God is trying to teach us when He seems not to respond to our prayers. In fact, in the very deliberate act of not rescuing us, or changing our circumstances, God often performs an even greater miracle—He transforms the person within.
Many of us will be greatly disappointed with God at some point in our lives. We will take our eyes off of Him. We will look at this world and at life’s circumstances, as Peter did when he took his eyes off of Jesus as he tried to walk across water. Like Peter, we will begin to sink into despair. Yet, if we turn to God in prayer and listen to Him through His Word, we will be transformed.
The more we draw upon God as our source, the closer we grow to Him and the more we begin to trust in His sovereignty. He reminds us that we are His precious children and He has our best interests at heart, no matter what we are going through.
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As we trust God to work in our lives, in His way, rather than insisting upon our own way, we learn contentment. As we place our faith in His decisions, rather than our own, we begin to see that we have no reason to fear.
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Although we are experienced adults, we must eventually give ourselves up to a childlike trust in an awesome God. We will never be disappointed. When we think God is being silent, perhaps we are simply not listening.
Nancy McGuirk - Bible commentator, small group facilitator, and intercessor - is the founder and director of the Women's Community Bible Study International. Nancy ministers to thousands of people each week in person and through a video and audio tape ministry. The focus of her work is evangelism, discipleship and intercessory prayer. For more articles by Nancy McGuirk, go to her website at Women’s Community Bible Study a Christianity.com ministry partner.