The Many Forms of God's Answers: Silent, Slow, Sudden, and Sure
Job 31:35b
…behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me…
Today, I wish to consider four ways in which God’s answers come. First, let us consider that God’s answers sometimes come silently. I’m reminded yet again of how the prophet Elijah looked for God’s voice in the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, but only heard it in a still small voice (1 Kings 19). Know this; God’s voice doesn’t have to be loud to speak volumes! It’s not going to come in clamor, but it’s going to come in clarity. Learn to shut out all the noises in your life so you can hear Him speak. It’s not that He can’t speak above the noise, but that He chooses not to compete. He wants your undivided attention. So perhaps if you listen closely, you will only hear Him in silence.
Secondly, God’s answers sometimes come slowly. Consider now Lazarus who had been dead four days before Christ responded to their pleas for intervention. Was it that Christ was delayed, or that his followers were despondent? Knowing now that Christ waited for a reason, we understand that what looked like a delay was divinely deliberate. We know then that our despondency is no proof that God isn’t working. He may do it later than we would prefer, but when He does it, He does it well!
Thirdly, God’s answers sometimes come suddenly. We think now of Paul and Silas, who were imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. Perhaps you remember how it went. At midnight they were praying and singing praises unto God (wouldn’t you have loved to hear what they were singing!), and then the Bible says “suddenly there was a great earthquake” and after the foundations of the prison were shaken, everyone’s shackles fell off! This teaches us that when it pleases The Lord, He is yet able to do a sudden work and give a sudden answer to your dilemma! Keep in mind, He has the advantage of being God!
And now fourthly, I’d like to say that not sometimes, but ALWAYS, God’s answers come surely. In other words, come as they may, be it silently, slowly, or suddenly, in any case, they DO come! And how do I know that God’s answers come surely? Because of Jeremiah 33:3a, which says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee…” [Emphasis mine]. You have questions? God has answers! It’s not IF, but only HOW and WHEN. Wait on Him, and you will see!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
…behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me…
Today, I wish to consider four ways in which God’s answers come. First, let us consider that God’s answers sometimes come silently. I’m reminded yet again of how the prophet Elijah looked for God’s voice in the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, but only heard it in a still small voice (1 Kings 19). Know this; God’s voice doesn’t have to be loud to speak volumes! It’s not going to come in clamor, but it’s going to come in clarity. Learn to shut out all the noises in your life so you can hear Him speak. It’s not that He can’t speak above the noise, but that He chooses not to compete. He wants your undivided attention. So perhaps if you listen closely, you will only hear Him in silence.
Secondly, God’s answers sometimes come slowly. Consider now Lazarus who had been dead four days before Christ responded to their pleas for intervention. Was it that Christ was delayed, or that his followers were despondent? Knowing now that Christ waited for a reason, we understand that what looked like a delay was divinely deliberate. We know then that our despondency is no proof that God isn’t working. He may do it later than we would prefer, but when He does it, He does it well!
Thirdly, God’s answers sometimes come suddenly. We think now of Paul and Silas, who were imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. Perhaps you remember how it went. At midnight they were praying and singing praises unto God (wouldn’t you have loved to hear what they were singing!), and then the Bible says “suddenly there was a great earthquake” and after the foundations of the prison were shaken, everyone’s shackles fell off! This teaches us that when it pleases The Lord, He is yet able to do a sudden work and give a sudden answer to your dilemma! Keep in mind, He has the advantage of being God!
And now fourthly, I’d like to say that not sometimes, but ALWAYS, God’s answers come surely. In other words, come as they may, be it silently, slowly, or suddenly, in any case, they DO come! And how do I know that God’s answers come surely? Because of Jeremiah 33:3a, which says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee…” [Emphasis mine]. You have questions? God has answers! It’s not IF, but only HOW and WHEN. Wait on Him, and you will see!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill