Years ago I wrote a piece called The Risk of Remedy about a girl I love that eventually grew into an addict from all the trauma she had endured in life. The blows of abuse, regardless of what form it takes, can turn a sweet child into an empty shell over time. This was a pattern that continued throughout the course of her life. And, while I always hoped for a miracle through the consistent prayers of my heart, I never saw much change. But, I truly am a believer in miracles. Prayers are a powerful gift we are given to lay our concerns and grievances before a mighty God whom is very present in every moment of life. He hasn’t just set things in motion and walked away, leaving us to figure it all out. He is there and he is listening.
You may not have someone like this girl in your life but what is it that has you weighed down with discouragement? What burdens have you prayed about with angst and longing that are yet to see the light of day? I know we all have them. We may not articulate it but deep down we all know that this world just isn’t right. We are all impacted to some degree or another and we may find various ways to cope but the discomfort of that burr is still in the boot or flip-flop, depending on where you live.
I am here to tell you not to give up! The Scriptures say, “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord and a thousand years is like a day.” (2 Peter 3:8) God doesn’t operate with time constraints. What may feel like an eternity to us is but seconds to the Lord. His perfect understanding of how things work and his absolute knowledge of everyone’s hearts brings fruition to our prayers at the infallible moment of his choice. If we trust in the truth that, ultimately, God is good, then we cannot lose hope thinking that our whispers, cries, SOS’s, have gone unnoticed. They aren’t floating around in the unseen heavens waiting for that random glance from the universe to act by chance. Our prayers are precious to the God of heaven’s armies. “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” (Ps.56:8)
That girl I told you about…she took the risk. She found the remedy. She has been set free from her prison into the glorious light of the love of God. She is free of drugs and although anxiety hasn’t completely disappeared, she now has a place to bring it. The bent ear of a loving Father leans in to listen to the struggles with a tenderness that wraps around her like a warm blanket of safety and comfort. Life isn’t easy but she knows her Savior is walking beside her and will never leave her. She is standing tall, the protective barbed-wire fence is all gone now and that beautiful smile has returned. He heard all my prayers over those many years and when the time was right, he set her free…
If you are interested in reading her story you can scroll down to The Risk of Remedy.
God is not deaf or silent.