Is Anyone Listening?
The father of the child cried out, "I believe; help my unbelief!"
-Mark 9:24 (NRSV)
Prayer:
The father of the child cried out, "I believe; help my unbelief!"
-Mark 9:24 (NRSV)
I had been praying regularly regarding the problems of substance abuse, anxiety, and depression that my family and I were experiencing. But was God really listening? I became disappointed with God and gradually stopped praying. Instead, I began to turn to friends for comfort. They were very supportive, but I knew something was missing in my life. I thought again about prayer. Perhaps prayer was not just expecting an immediate solution to my problem but rather trusting that God was working to bring good from our struggles. I made a conscious decision to reach out to God again and to remain open as I listened for God's response.
A short time later our family experienced our greatest loss -- our younger son committed suicide. While I had a standard response for friends who kindly inquired, I had no words to offer God. All I had to give God was my broken heart. What God offered me in return was a deep sense of his own sorrow. God did not offer quick answers or press me to speak. We simply walked together in silence. It was prayer.
Anne C. Aker (Virginia, U.S.A.)
Prayer:
Lord, help us hold fast to our trust in you even when we feel that you are far away. Amen.