Does it feel to you as though God seems silent when you pray for your estranged relationship? You’ve prayed multiple times daily and nothing changes. It’s frustrating, isn’t it?
If you’re like me, you begin to wonder if it’s worth it. Is God even listening? Does he care about this estrangement and your broken heart?
And the result is you give up on prayer – at least for a time. My friend, that’s exactly what the ultimate enemy desires.
Scripture says Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy and if he can do that with your prayer life, he’s winning.
Recognize the True Enemy
We tend to blame in estrangement. Laying blame on someone makes our heart feel better. Now, don’t get upset with me for saying this, but really, it doesn’t matter.
Your son, daughter or someone in their family did or said something to offend or hurt you. They feel you’ve said or done the same to them. And a standoff ensues. Who is to blame becomes the focus and pride keeps either from coming together to resolve the hurt.
Scripture gives us spiritual protection against the enemy. Ephesians 6:10-18 is a wonderful place to start to armor up! Recognize your true enemy and begin to protect your heart against these attacks that keep estrangement alive.
When God seems silent it may be the true enemy trying to block you from hearing him.
Shift your Focus
Consider your prayers – what specifically are they? You may say, “well, I pray for reconciliation and softening of hearts.” And that’s wonderful. But what about the ongoing prayers you express throughout the day?
It’s helpful to write your prayers in a journal for a week or two to see exactly what you’re saying to God. You and I get distracted easily and I find myself uttering the same words over and over. God heard me the first time.
However, I’m impatient and since God seems silent, anyway, what harm is there in repeating the prayer multiple times?
Too often in prayer, we focus on the mountain (the problem) and fail to focus on the one who can move the mountain. In other words, who is God? Why do you pray to him?
When God Seems Silent Focus on Him
He is God, Creator and Sustainer. He is Messiah, Redeemer, Healer, Protector and so much more.
Try changing your prayer focus as you shift from the mountain of estrangement to the wonderful, powerful and father to you.
Since you are writing your prayers in a journal, begin to write new prayers and make each one praise or thanksgiving for an attribute of his. You can google attributes of God to find scriptures to help you.
My sister in Christ, I’ll promise you that when you shift your focus away from your problem to who he is, you will see mountains moved. It may not be your estranged relationship, but your heart will change.
You will find God seems silent no more. He inhabits the praises of his people scripture tells us.
Are you ready for God to move your mountain? Begin to praise him in your prayers and leave the outcome of your estrangement to the one who has the power to move anything!