Things Unseen

I have a prayer journal. Some of my prayers in it seem like a lifetime of prayer has gone into them and I'm still waiting to see answers. And I'm not going to lie, I fight frustration and discouragement over this...is God even listening? Why is it that I can pray, and pray, and pray some more and yet see nothing happen?

God and I were having this discussion on my walk this morning, and he whispered to my soul. (I appreciated the fact that he whispered in a loving tone rather than becoming frustrated back at me...he is such an awesome God. I want to be more like him!)

Ok...small digression there, but here's what my heart quietly heard him say:

"Is nothing really happening? Or can you just not see with your eyes what I am doing?" And he followed that with:

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

It's not like I don't know that verse. I know it very well. In fact, I have the confidence in what I hope for down pat. I know that I know that I know God can and will accomplish all he's promised. He's God. There is nothing he cannot do. I am beyond confident in that fact.

But that's what led me to my frustration. If I know he can do anything but nothing is happening, then he must not be listening, doesn't care, or...doesn't want to use me. (gulp) Right?

Wrong. See, it's the second half of that verse I need to work on. God is moving...alllll the time. He's working things we cannot even begin to see in preparation to bring us to the place we can see. He's putting people in places. He's stringing together events. He's arranging moments. We need to have assurance that beyond what's visible, God is still working our answers. We don't need to see his movement to believe he's still working. Oh, we want to (desperately at times) but our faith shouldn't be contingent on our eyes.

And that's what that verse is saying.

Do we believe always with a steadfast assurance? Even when the answer isn't immediately evident? Or does our faith rely solely on what God can tangibly deliver? 

For me I fall in the middle. There are times where my faith is red hot and then there are times like today where I question. I beg for him to show me his work. Yet I need to rest in his timing and allow the assurance of my faith to cradle my discouraged heart. Because that's when my faith grows. When that red hot burns bright. Above all, I want a faith that holds in all circumstances.

So I'll take the assurance that he is currently working beyond what I see, and I'll not only keep praying but begin praising. Because if I believe he's working those answers, then I'm going to take my faith a step farther and begin praising him for them before they are visible. 

And amen.

What about you? Do you ever struggle with this? Ready to start praising him for the answers before you even see them?