When God Doesn’t Listen
August 12, 2008Right now I’m reading this book by Henry and Richard Blackaby called “Hearing God’s Voice.” It’s about one’s personal relationship with God, it’s about prayer, it’s about learning to listen to God’s voice (the title might have given that away).
In one of the chapters on prayer, the authors talk about “how” and “why” God answers prayers. We all know that sometimes God says “yes,” sometimes God says “no,” sometimes God says, “yes, but wait,” but sometimes God doesn’t seem to be listening.
The authors offered some very insightful biblical answers to help us understand what might be going on when it appears that God just isn’t listening. Please read the following from Blackaby (pp 129-130):
“Why are we sometimes met with silence when we pray? According to the Bible, if we allow sin to remain in our lives, God will not respond to our prayers. The psalmist said, “If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear” (Ps 66:18). The prophet Isaiah concurred: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your iniquities [sins] have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear” (Isa 59:1-2).
“Clearly God maintains the right to withhold answers to our prayers. It is an offront for us to sin against him, then brazenly expect him to respond unreservedly to our prayers. He gives us fair warning: “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you, yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood” (Isa 1:15). God’s silence sends a strong message: we should examine our lives to ensure no sin is provoking him to remain silent.
“The Bible singles out a particular sin that impedes our prayer life. That is the sin of broken relationships. God obviously places relationships at a high priority, for Jesus said, “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering” (Matt 5:23-24). Likewise Peter stressed the importance of harmony within the sacred marriage relationship: “You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered” (1 Pet 3:7 NASB).
“Jesus talked often about relationships. He also spoke at length about forgiveness. He taught his disciples to pray: “And forgive our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt 6:12). Jesus said our standard of forgiveness will be the standard by which God measures us. At the close of the Lord’s prayer, Jesus explained: “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive people, then your heavenly Father will not forgive your wrongdoing” (Matt 6:14-15). Where there is silence from heaven when we pray, we should carefully examine our relationships.
(Hearing God’s Voice, Henry and Richard Blackaby, Nashville TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002, pp. 129-130)
Hi there,
I was attracted by the title “when God doesn’t listen”, and … to be honest, God teaches me how to be mature and yeah … I can feel his love, but now i hesitate to be baptism, coz…coz i am afraid to take the responsibility to serve god. I am not sure if i can love god more than myself. I mean I do love God, my father. But sometimes i cannot stop myself being selfish.
When I finished reading 《The purpose driven life》, i feel ashamed. why can’t I love god more? why? and that sounds i was forced to love him.
I don’t know what’s going wrong in my mind. Can you give me some tips?
cheers
Emily
PS. I am a chinese girl and i am not sure if you can understand my poor english. If you can give me some advise, would you please reply to my Email address? Thank you!
Peace be with you ^ ^
I will never forget our dear brother D.C.’s position he took on this very subject with another individual that we both know…do you recall? I am absolutely sure D.C. would appreciate today’s blog. He has a fairly lengthy list of scripture that he has researched supporting today’s topic. I believe I still have a copy around hear somewhere.
If you had to summarize in one or two sentences how to best listen to God…how would you do it? I often feel that my prayers are way to much of me and not enough God. That is entirely my fault…for not shutting up and listening more.
Jimmy D, I remember something about DC and these passages–but no details that I recall in regard to our context. RE: Prayer: I feel the same as you do, and am still trying to develop the art of prayer as relationship rather than prayer as request. But the book I am reading is giving some insight and I can say that my prayer life is growing and developing–and possibly that I am “Hearing God’s Voice” more clearly.
Dear Emily: Making that transition from mere belief to saving faith is indeed difficult. You will have to make sacrifices in your current way of living (this is called repentance). However, if you will trust (faith) in Jesus as your Lord and Savior (submitting to the waters of baptism) you will discover that the life you are accepting is more complete, purposeful, and fulfilling than the life you will be leaving behind. BUT you must learn to trust in the goodness of God and in His vision for your life. Also, the presence of God in your life promised at baptism (Acts 2:38) will help you and lead you to place God first–and this won’t happen overnight, it will be a life-long process. Blessings to you.
Emily: Make that Acts 2:38.
This is so true.. The minute you stop thinking about yourself and focus on God, the minute he answers your prayer.. I have an example. I was very worried when I first moved here, about the job, about not knowing anyone, wondering if I would I like it.. Then one day I just gave it to God. He answered my prayers in many ways after that. It is so crazy, yet simple how everything works.