When Agonizing Prayers of the Heart Persist In Silence?
We have all been there at some point in our prayer life. The most agonizing prayers of our heart seem to be screams into the darkness with only silence as our response. We take a deep breath and say, “Well, it must not have been God’s will. I will trust Him.” Sadly, we lay down the prayer; afraid to pick it up again. Sorrow fills our heart and instead of trust doubt fills our minds. So what do we do then?
© Phil McKay/Licensed from GoodSalt.com
[bctt tweet=”Are we to keep praying when our most agonizing prayers of the heart seem to persist in silence?”]
Let us look at some of the agonizing prayers of the Bible and see what God’s response has been.
THE PRAYERS OF HANNAH
Hannah in great sorrow remained barren. Every year she would go with her husband to the temple and pray for a child. No child came. One year her agony was so great that the priest looking out thought she was drunk. She promised God that she would give her child over to lifelong service to God, if He would grant her wish. He did and Samuel was born. As soon as Samuel was weaned, she gave Samuel to the priest to raise. She saw him once a year. She did as she had promised God—she then had five more children. God’s chosen priest-Samuel was born because of Hannah’s persistence in prayer. God’s will and plan was fulfilled through Hannah. (I Samuel 1-3).
THE PROPHETESS ANNA-84 YEARS OF PRAYER
“36-37 Anna, a prophetess, was also there in the Temple that day. She was the daughter of Phanuel, of the Jewish tribe of Asher, and was very old, for she had been a widow for eighty-four years following seven years of marriage. She never left the Temple but stayed there night and day, worshiping God by praying and often fasting. 38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she also began thanking God and telling everyone in Jerusalem who had been awaiting the coming of the Savior[f] that the Messiah had finally arrived” (Luke 2 TLB). After 84 years of prayer, Anna was privileged to see and recognize Christ as the Messiah, the Savior. Her persistence in prayer allowed her to see God.
THE MOST AGONIZING PRAYER OF THE BIBLE
The most agonizing prayer in all of the Bible was that of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. ““Father, if you are willing, please take away this cup of horror from me. But I want your will, not mine.”43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him, 44 for he was in such agony of spirit that he broke into a sweat of blood, with great drops falling to the ground as he prayed more and more earnestly” (Luke 22 TLB). The pleas of Jesus did not fall on silent ears. The Father felt the agony of His son; yet, it was the only way that mankind could be redeemed. So, for the good of the kingdom and the ultimate Joy that would be given to Jesus through the cross; God did not grant the plea of His son. He did send an angel from heaven to strengthen Him. Jesus was then ready to face the cross before Him with all the horror. He was able to endure when God and the Holy Spirit turned their backs upon Him as our sins were laid on His shoulders.
So, what should we do when agonizing prayers of the heart persist in silence? Keep praying until peace truly fills your heart. Either God intends to answer the prayer in His timing or give us the joy, comfort and peace to understand His will.
Prayer lays hold of God’s plan and becomes the link between His will and its accomplishment on earth. Amazing things happen, and we are given the privilege of being the channels of the Holy Spirit’s prayer.
~ Elisabeth Elliot
[bctt tweet=”Keep praying until God either grants the request or gives you strength, joy and peace with no.”]
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Listen to this song. Oft in Sorrow
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©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
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