One of the biggest most confusing aspects of God is how He refuses to answer prayers. I know what you’re thinking, how could I ever make a statement like that? But it’s true. Many times, good people cry out to God for help or answers and receive silence in return. How can that be the response of a loving and compassionate God? Silence, in the middle of my storm? Ridiculous!
At other times bad or faithless people ask God for answers, or at least a response to the dilemma they are going through. But again, silence. How can this be anywhere close to a loving response from God, whether we know Him or if we are simply crying out to a God we don’t know? This makes no sense! No wonder most people do not believe in God! No wonder many refuse to submit their lives to God that refuses to answer! It seems like God is simply playing us for the fool, or maybe not?
One of the ways Jesus was referenced in ancient times was simply as “teacher.” Teacher seems too simple. Maybe “Almighty Magnificent Powerful Teacher” would be more appropriate, or maybe not. As I remember my days in school and seminary, the goal of those teachers was to create an environment of learning. They wanted me to learn some new idea, or concept, to come to a new understanding of some truth or reality. They wanted me to be able to apply these lessons learned in ways that would be productive, positive and beneficial. So, maybe I need to go a little bit further.
When a lesson or series of lessons have been given for study and application, the “teacher” always gave the class a test. An exam, in which we could demonstrate our understanding of the lessons and applications of them. During those exams, the “teacher” was always silent.
Is it possible that our study and time of learning has elapsed in some cases when we are crying out to God for a response? Are we still seeing the storms of our lives as lessons to be learned, or are we not seeing that God has said that it is time for a test?
NOTE TO SELF: IS THE STORM IM GOING THROUGH A TIME OF LEARNING, OR, A TIME FOR THE TEST?
At other times bad or faithless people ask God for answers, or at least a response to the dilemma they are going through. But again, silence. How can this be anywhere close to a loving response from God, whether we know Him or if we are simply crying out to a God we don’t know? This makes no sense! No wonder most people do not believe in God! No wonder many refuse to submit their lives to God that refuses to answer! It seems like God is simply playing us for the fool, or maybe not?
One of the ways Jesus was referenced in ancient times was simply as “teacher.” Teacher seems too simple. Maybe “Almighty Magnificent Powerful Teacher” would be more appropriate, or maybe not. As I remember my days in school and seminary, the goal of those teachers was to create an environment of learning. They wanted me to learn some new idea, or concept, to come to a new understanding of some truth or reality. They wanted me to be able to apply these lessons learned in ways that would be productive, positive and beneficial. So, maybe I need to go a little bit further.
When a lesson or series of lessons have been given for study and application, the “teacher” always gave the class a test. An exam, in which we could demonstrate our understanding of the lessons and applications of them. During those exams, the “teacher” was always silent.
Is it possible that our study and time of learning has elapsed in some cases when we are crying out to God for a response? Are we still seeing the storms of our lives as lessons to be learned, or are we not seeing that God has said that it is time for a test?
NOTE TO SELF: IS THE STORM IM GOING THROUGH A TIME OF LEARNING, OR, A TIME FOR THE TEST?