When You Wonder if He Hears You
June 5, 2012
It’s a striking image.
A stately government
official in his mid-eighties, perhaps with distinguished silvery hair, standing
on the banks of a large river, dressed in flowing Middle Eastern robes.
official in his mid-eighties, perhaps with distinguished silvery hair, standing
on the banks of a large river, dressed in flowing Middle Eastern robes.
His colleagues and lower-ranking staff have suddenly fled
and hid themselves in the long grasses, terrorized by a presence they can’t see
or explain. An angel that only he can see speaks with him.
and hid themselves in the long grasses, terrorized by a presence they can’t see
or explain. An angel that only he can see speaks with him.
“Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set
your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before God, your words
were heard, and I have come in response to them.”
your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before God, your words
were heard, and I have come in response to them.”
There had been a delay – a wild, unimaginable delay that
needs a separate blog-post on another day just to ponder it—but a delay, nonetheless.
In Daniel’s timeline, he waited three weeks for a response and for peace. He was
worried, anxious, and spent extended time in prayer.
needs a separate blog-post on another day just to ponder it—but a delay, nonetheless.
In Daniel’s timeline, he waited three weeks for a response and for peace. He was
worried, anxious, and spent extended time in prayer.
Then, beside a rushing water, that answer came. “Don’t be
afraid, since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to
humble yourself before God, your words were heard…”
afraid, since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to
humble yourself before God, your words were heard…”
Wow. Where are you in life right now?
Is this a rushing water kind of day where God is speaking to
you loudly, even if no one around is hearing him? They may still be noticing
that something is different around you, though.
you loudly, even if no one around is hearing him? They may still be noticing
that something is different around you, though.
Or are you in a quiet anguish-filled silence of waiting and
listening, wondering what God is going to say next? He hears you, friend. No
matter what the delays feel like, he hears you and is working on your behalf.
listening, wondering what God is going to say next? He hears you, friend. No
matter what the delays feel like, he hears you and is working on your behalf.
Meanwhile, back at the river bank, our stately gentleman is
amazed and terror-stricken at this uncommon method of hearing God speak too.
The angel strengthens him by a touch on the shoulder, lifting him up, gently
encouraging him to talk and ask questions, and the words, “Do not be afraid,
you who are highly esteemed. Peace! Be strong now, be strong.”
amazed and terror-stricken at this uncommon method of hearing God speak too.
The angel strengthens him by a touch on the shoulder, lifting him up, gently
encouraging him to talk and ask questions, and the words, “Do not be afraid,
you who are highly esteemed. Peace! Be strong now, be strong.”
Daily, I want to set my mind to gain understanding and to be
humbled before my God.
humbled before my God.
Daily, I want to remember the huge grandeur of my God who
sends the angels to do his bidding, who orchestrates world leaders and history,
and who whispers, “Don’t be afraid….Your words were heard… Peace, be strong
now, be strong.”
sends the angels to do his bidding, who orchestrates world leaders and history,
and who whispers, “Don’t be afraid….Your words were heard… Peace, be strong
now, be strong.”
“Your words were heard. Peace…”
Alleluia!
There is a wonderful place and time, when one is down on one's knees, bowed head, deep in prayer, with reverence and humility.
We need to be in this place, daily.
Thanks for this, Jen…. a time for worship, a time to plead, a time to repent, a time to dwell in peace and silence.
I want to learn to INSTANTLY hear and recognize his voice. It is my huge desire to be able to discern Him from among all the noise in my head
That is one of my favorite passages… and I often think of the spiritual battles going on behind the scenes of our prayers. Beautiful post, Jen. It uplifts me.
"Peace be strong now, be strong." Love that!
Thanks for linking-up wiht me, Jen!
Amen, Lolita.
Jennifer
jenniferdougan.com
Cabinart,
Yes, learning to instantly hear and recognize his voice — it is a learning process, huh?
Jennifer
jenniferdougan.com
Pam,
Wild, exciting spiritual battles pictured in that chapter, huh?! Crazy to even try to picture.
Thank you, Pam.
Jennifer
jenniferdougan.com
I thought I commented on this sooner, but it is such a comforting post thank you!