The God Who Answers
We're reading Genesis 35 where Jacob returns to Bethel, and sets up an altar at his home.
As he explains to his family what he wants to do, he says in verse 2, “Purify yourselves, change your clothes.” Then he said, “Come, let us go up to Bethel where I will build an altar to God who answered me the day of my distress, the God who answered me in the day of my distress.”
Have you experienced God as an answering God in your day of distress? Or does your experience tell a story of silence and struggle as you've cried out to God?
Sometimes it's frustrating reading the Old Testament and seeing how God spoke to these men and women so clearly, and yet we struggle to hear from God. Sometimes we only understand what God has said to us later on, with hindsight, of course, and that's frustrating, but sometimes that's how it goes.
Ways to Draw Near
I believe God answers prayers. I believe. Sometimes I just don't hear it. And so some ways that we can draw near to God so we can hear how He might be answering our questions are to go deeper into the Word. If we really want to hear from God, His Word, revealed and inspired, has everything we need. Go deep into the Word so that you can hear what He might be saying to you.
Secondly, draw near to people of God who might have the wisdom that you don't. I’ve received so much help from other Christians who have pointed me in directions that I would never have even looked at. And oftentimes, I've heard God answer through them.
What about fasting? A lot of the time when we fast, we are more open to hearing what God might be saying to us. There's a peculiar power in fasting food. I know that there's a lot that says fast from TV and fast from the Internet and social media, and that's very helpful. But when we fast from food, that really helps us to draw near to God because we get really hungry really fast.
God’s Perfect Timing
In fact, an unknown author once wrote a book called The Kneeling Christian in which he said “God's answer to prayer may be yes, or it may be no, or it may be wait”. And he said God's answer is sometimes no, like he said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:8. It's not that He's refusing to bless us or anything, but again, it's that He knows something better is coming.
Sometime He says wait, not denying us something that we need, but waiting for the right time so that we can enjoy His benefits at the right time. And I know this has been a difficult one for me, I know that God is saying wait a lot in my life.
And so He answers us when we pray. But remember, prayer is not necessarily always about asking God questions. Prayer, in a large way, is just about being in God's presence and enjoying His company. If that's our approach to prayer, then yes, He will certainly speak to us, answer us, show us His love, give us His encouragement, and answer us in all sorts of wonderful ways.
Our God is not a God who withdraws from us to leave us struggling in the silence. He's a God who comes near us, puts His arms around us, and helps us even through the difficult times.
And so, like Jacob, give thanks today that your God is a God who hears you when you call. I pray that as you spend time with Him in the next while, you will experience His presence in a special way.
