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                                                   Whose power and love forbid despair."

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Unanswered Questions in Prayer

Ever prayed about something without ever getting an answer? I mean really prayed with fervent, desperate, soul seeking prayers? I know I have. Actually it was over a year ago, before I graduated college, that these types of prayers weren't uncommon for me. I'd plead with God to give me answers to some big life questions I had for the future. College was almost over and I needed to know where God wanted me to go next. Problem was, I either didn't hear Him at all or second guessed what it was He said if He was indeed answering those desperate prayers. Very quickly though I grew tired of asking the same questions over and over without hearing anything. I so desperately wanted an answer that I tried to force one to come. Most of the answers I "heard" from God were actually my own thoughts. This ended in deep frustration with myself and with God. I'll admit that I even became angry for His silence on these issues.

In the midst of this frustration I cried out one day and said,

"God you're going to have to drop a piano in front of me or something in order for me to hear You because I'm just not hearing Your answer at all lately!"

I needed an answer now and God was not abiding by my timeline. Didn't He know graduation was right around the corner? Didn't He see that I had to start looking for a job soon? Why wasn't He answering me? It didn't make sense. I was asking, seeking and knocking in prayer but I wasn't getting an answer. Since I really had not clue what to do or what God was up to, I decided to not make a move; that is unless He told me to. I was so afraid of making a wrong move into my future that I didn't move at all. I would wait for an answer and then move forward.

The summer came and went. No answer. I needed to find a job doing something in order to pay back student loans. (I now realize my error in borrowing money and am using Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Revisited book to get out of debt. I highly recommend it. Click Here to buy the book.) At this point in time I was still bent on not moving without God's direction. It wasn't until a wise older woman who I knew said something that got me thinking. She told me that even if I wasn't sure of what to do or where to go next, I needed to start somewhere.

God could correct my course if needed but I had to actually move forward.


So I did. I got a part time job working with children after feeling a certain peace about applying. I've been working at the same place since the beginning of the school year now. Is it where God wants me? I'm not sure. But I'm more comfortable now walking with God without clear answers in front of me.

A few months ago I was thinking about these very questions again. It had been a year and I still hadn't heard any answers to the questions I had asked. But suddenly, like a light bulb going off in my head I realized what God may have been up to.

He wants me to trust Him.

The thought wasn't like a piano dropping out of the sky; rather it was more of a quiet, gentle thought on my heart.  A peace that surpassed understanding flowed through me. It was then I remembered what God had asked Abraham to do in Genesis 12.

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. Genesis 12:1 (emphasis mine)

Hebrews 11:8 in the Amplified translation puts it beautifully:

[Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go. 
Hebrews 11:8

Isn't that awesome? Abraham didn't trouble his mind about where was to go. Talk about a lesson in faith! God didn't tell Abraham where He wanted him to go before Abraham moved forward. Abraham took the first step, while trusting God. His action, mixed with faith was what allowed Abraham to take that first step.

Walking In Faith

God wanted me to trust Him fully and to walk in faith. For some reason or another I always forget the first part of that verse: walking in faith. Walking without faith and faith without walking will get us nowhere. We need to walk by faith and have faith to walk forward. Not one without the other. As long as we walk forward in the center of God's revealed will to us through His Word, He will be faithful to steer us in the right direction.

Perhaps you are also praying for something specific in your life and haven't gotten the answer to it just yet. I want to encourage you to not lose heart. God can withhold answers for a number of reasons, all of them for our own good. He could be asking us to:

1. Trust Him 
2. Move forward in faith
3. Learn to discern His voice
4. Let go of control
5. Or we may not be ready to hear His answer quite yet

This list is by no means exhaustive but it gives us a starting point. What is it you've been struggling with? Maybe God is helping you with this by not answering a prayer right away. His purposes for not answering a prayer are always good and loving. It may feel frustrating at times but know that God has got your back. 

Where do you feel God asking you to take that first step of faith? Remember our father in the faith Abraham... God blessed this man greatly and it all began with a step of faith. 

And as for those unanswered prayers? Well, I've come to realize God actually does answer ALL of our prayers, just maybe not in the way we expect Him too. It takes faith to walk forward in the midst of uncertainty and wholehearted trust in the Lord. When His answer is "trust me and walk forward" we need to do exactly that.

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Some exciting changes will take place over the new couple of weeks or so here at Whispers to the Heart! The biggest change will be the blogs overall look! A big thanks to Jana over at Little Web Writing Hood for designing a spectacular new layout. Some of the finishing touches are currently being done and I hope to have the new look up by at least the beginning of May.

Whispers to the Heart is also now on Facebook! You can get updates on blog posts and other such information at www.facebook.com/WhisperstotheHeart. Don't forget we're also on Twitter and Pinterest!

Another change will be in the pages. The About section has been updated and new pages will be added soon as well. Please keep checking back for more updates here at Whispers to the Heart.

Lastly, today I wanted to share with you all a poem from a book I recently bought called "Prayer Poems!" I love to read this one at night before I go to bed and hope it will be a blessing to you as it was for me.

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Heart Series Conclusion

It feels like just yesterday I began posting various Scriptures that talk about the heart. This series has gone on for 4 weeks now though and it's time for the final post on the heart series devotions.

I hope these devotions have helped you to understand more, and grow in the knowledge of God's ways.

In conclusion with this series I will post some of the things Jesus Himself said on the heart. I've included Scriptures this time as well as a prayer to receive Christ at the end of this post. I pray that the Lord will enlighten the eyes of your heart (Ephesians 1:18) as you read the Scriptures below. He is faithful to teach and show what you need to see.



Scriptures

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29

“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Mark 11:23

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.  Luke 8:15

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1

God Sees Our Hearts

Please remember though, that our heart is another way of addressing our deep, inner-man. God sees this part of us better than anyone else can. He fashioned our hearts and created our hearts to be in fellowship with Him. This is only possible through His Son Jesus Christ.

If you've never asked Jesus to cleanse your heart and dwell in there forever, you can take that step today. All you need is to ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, cleanse your heart, dwell inside of you and believe His sacrifice on the Cross.

Prayer

Lord God,
I am so sorry for living my life apart from You. I've not followed You with my whole heart, nor have I loved You the way that You created me too. I am deeply sorry and I humbly repent.
Thank You Lord God, for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to live, die and rise again for me. Because of His sacrifice I can be made new. I turn to You and believe in what Jesus has done and that He is Your Son, my Lord and Savior.
Please Jesus, come live and dwell in me forever. Guide me, show me the path I am to take and please bestow upon me a new heart that is sensitive to You, the Light of Life and Truth.
I pray this and I ask this in Jesus' Name,
Amen

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

If you prayed that prayer, and truly meant it, you are now made new in Christ. I encourage you to tell someone about your decision and to find a Bible believing church where you can continue to learn and grow in Christ! That prayer you prayed is really just the beginning of a brand new life!



Please feel free to email me to let me know if you prayed that prayer. I would love to chat with you and pray for you!

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