In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. Judges 17:6 NLT

There is nothing harder than prayer met with silence.

A quiet stillness.

Prayer without discernable answer.

I wait a bit longer.

Pray some more.

Fine.

I guess I have to figure it out and decide.

Obviously, God is sleeping.

Obviously, He doesn’t hear or understand I need to make a decision.

Make a move.

In my mind, there’s no time to wait.

So I do what’s best in my own eyes.

Decide on my own.

Craft my own calf.

God will understand – my back’s against the wall. I have to do things this way – for now – just until God shows up. It’s not the best decision but I have to do something.

It doesn’t work out and I wonder where God is – why didn’t He show up?

I guess I can’t count on Him after all.

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” Exodus 32:1

Moses went to meet with God on the mountain. The people waited…and waited. At some point they decide he isn’t coming back – Moses and God are MIA.

They turn away from God and create something to replace Him.

We can’t wait any longer – we must move on.

In the middle of the now and not yet, the Israelites decide to take control of their circumstances.

Create and follow a false god.

There are no grey areas – it’s Heaven or hell.

In or out.

God’s way or mine.

I’m following or I’m not.

The decisions I make move me closer or farther away – decisions that form my character and life.

I can’t stand the silence so I give God a shove and grab control.

The world encourages and celebrates it.

“Follow your heart”

The choice is mine - do I follow my heart or God's? Click To Tweet

Love always gives – sometimes giving means giving up.

Giving up what I want for what He has.

Choosing left instead of right.

Sovereign over self.

It’s choosing love over control.

Love that’s patient, kind.

Love that sacrifices self.

There is purpose in silence, in the wait.

What seems unbearable in my demand for immediate action and answers is actually an invitation.

An invitation to pray and draw near.

An invitation to trust God – experience His goodness and plan.

An invitation to participate in His process.

“The fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace.” –Mother Theresa

The wait I wear like an itchy sweater is God beckoning, “Come closer”.

Taste and see I am good.

I bless you with refuge and rest.

Peace that passes understanding.

When you wait for Me, you run and don’t grow weary.

Your strength is renewed.

You soar like the eagle.

Choosing God over control means surrender when I’m frustrated.

It means prayer when there’s silence.

It means waiting and trusting God’s got this – because He always does.

He promises to never leave or forsake me.

He promises my foot won’t strike stone.

He promises when I submit to Him, He will straighten my path.

The Lord makes all things new and restores what locusts ate away.

He works all things for good – even when there’s silence.

Even as I wait.