Theme of the Week: Prayer
Bible Verse: “To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place”. Psalm 28:1-2
Scripture Reading: John 8:1-11, Psalm 28:1-9
Why is God often silent—or as we might say, Why do our prayers sometimes seem to bounce off the ceiling?
In the story of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus is initially silent in the face of the question asked by the teachers of the law and the Pharisees: “In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” Instead of answering, Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger (vv. 5-6).
I am sure that Jesus’ silence was not easy for the woman caught in adultery. Those seconds or minutes of silence must have felt like hours or days while she awaited her fate. But when Jesus finally did answer, her accusers were ready to listen to him: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And one by one, her accusers left (vv. 7-9).
For a variety of reasons, sometimes God loves us best by being silent. Our encouragement, from both the story of the woman caught in adultery and Psalm 28, is that God doesn’t remain silent. God hears our cry, and in the right time, He answers. “Praise be to the Lord,” the psalmist says in verses 6 and 7, “for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.”
It’s our nature to wonder why, when we are anxiously waiting for Jesus to answer, He stoops down to write in the sand. We won’t always know why God is silent, but we can trust in His unfailing love. When the time is right, God will break the silence.
Prayer: Dear Lord, when you are silent, please strengthen me to continue seeking you and trusting in your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection: How does God show us His love in His silence?
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