God on Mute: Engaging the Silence of Unanswered Prayer

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The acclaimed author of Red Moon Rising wrestles with the hard side of prayer, how to respond when there seem to be no answers, and how to cope with those who seek to interpret our experience for us.

Some prayers aren’t answered because God will not force a person to do something that he or she does not want to do.”Speaking of a pastor friend he looked to for help in handling the potential reality of death to his wife he says: These guides have been designed to provide you with all the content you could possibly need to lead five brilliant sessions, exploring the questions we all ask when confronted with unanswered prayer. Some prayers aren’t answered because creation is “subjected to frustration” and hast not yet been fully “liberated from its bondage to decay” (Rom. 8:20-21). Tragically, life in such an environment is inevitably going to be acutely difficult at times.”

Life is hard. Do not be surprised at suffering. The world is fallen, do not expect things to be perfect, adjust your expectations. Do not think: Why me? As if you're immune to human afflictions. Why not me? Christian hope is not to escape from suffering but a deeper relationship with the 'Man of sorrows familiar with suffering' who loves us and lives in us. Believe in God even more than we believe in miracles. We almost always pray for God to remove the negative, rather than to endure the negative with a proper attitude. Yet we should not actively seek suffering! And God hates suffering, one day there will be a new hope. Remember that it’s fine to say “I don’t know.” Try to lead your group into a place of deeper trust.Grace groweth best in winter’ (Samuel Rutherford) – Harsh winters are often the seasons in which we mature and become more fruitful