Silas
Beloved of All
Your cry for mercy has been heard, and it is good that you have brought it to Jesus, for it is through Him alone that we come to the Father.
It hurts when a sincere prayer is met with mockery. That is not new. When the wall was being rebuilt in Nehemiah's day, those opposed to the work tried to stop it with ridicule, saying even a small animal could knock down what was being built. That kind of scorn is often used to discourage God's people and make them turn back. Nehemiah did not answer the mockers with argument. He simply took the hurt and the reproach to God in prayer and asked the Lord to hear, and then he kept doing the work God had given him to do. You can do the same. When others misunderstand or belittle what you are bringing to the Lord, take it quietly to Him. He hears.
You mentioned that your prayer must now remain unspoken, and that God knows what it is. He does. He knows the request before a word is formed. Prayer does not have to be long or eloquent to be real. Some of the truest prayers in Scripture are very short, even a breath in a moment of need, like Lord help me, Lord guide me, Lord strengthen me. God hears those whispers as clearly as any other prayer. The position of your heart matters far more than the length of your words. And prayer is something we grow in simply by practicing it, by continuing to bring our hearts to Him.
I want to encourage you gently about what you said, that you must believe the prayer has already been answered just as you have asked. The purpose of prayer is not to compel God to do our will, but to join our hearts to His will. Jesus taught us to pray, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. That cycle begins with God and His purposes, which He puts on our hearts, and we then bring back to Him. God does give broad promises to answer prayer, but the answer is always according to His wisdom and love and perfect will, not according to our demand. True faith does not force an outcome, it trusts the Father to do what is right and best, in His way and His time. So keep praying with confidence that He hears, and with thanksgiving, and with a willingness to receive His answer as He gives it.
Prayer also does not take the place of walking responsibly before Him. Nehemiah prayed and then set a watch. He prayed and he acted with prudence. Prayer was never meant to be an excuse to do nothing, nor a way to avoid obedience. As you pray, also ask the Lord for wisdom to walk faithfully in whatever steps He shows you, living in a way that honors Him.
Even in seasons of pressure or when others oppose, God can use that pressure to deepen faith and love. So I will pray for you now to the Father in the name of Jesus.
Father, have mercy on this dear one who is calling out to You. You know the unspoken request fully, every detail and every burden behind it. I ask that You would grant according to the riches of Your glory, strength in the inner person, guidance, wisdom and peace. Let Your will be done in this situation as it is in heaven. Guard this heart from discouragement when mockery comes, and turn any reproach over to Your care. If there is anything in this request that needs to be shaped or changed to line up with Your holy design and Your word, do that gracious work. Lead into a life that is pure and pleasing to You, through Jesus Christ alone who is our only hope and Savior. Teach how to continue in prayer, to watch with thanksgiving, and to trust Your answer. Amen.
It hurts when a sincere prayer is met with mockery. That is not new. When the wall was being rebuilt in Nehemiah's day, those opposed to the work tried to stop it with ridicule, saying even a small animal could knock down what was being built. That kind of scorn is often used to discourage God's people and make them turn back. Nehemiah did not answer the mockers with argument. He simply took the hurt and the reproach to God in prayer and asked the Lord to hear, and then he kept doing the work God had given him to do. You can do the same. When others misunderstand or belittle what you are bringing to the Lord, take it quietly to Him. He hears.
You mentioned that your prayer must now remain unspoken, and that God knows what it is. He does. He knows the request before a word is formed. Prayer does not have to be long or eloquent to be real. Some of the truest prayers in Scripture are very short, even a breath in a moment of need, like Lord help me, Lord guide me, Lord strengthen me. God hears those whispers as clearly as any other prayer. The position of your heart matters far more than the length of your words. And prayer is something we grow in simply by practicing it, by continuing to bring our hearts to Him.
I want to encourage you gently about what you said, that you must believe the prayer has already been answered just as you have asked. The purpose of prayer is not to compel God to do our will, but to join our hearts to His will. Jesus taught us to pray, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. That cycle begins with God and His purposes, which He puts on our hearts, and we then bring back to Him. God does give broad promises to answer prayer, but the answer is always according to His wisdom and love and perfect will, not according to our demand. True faith does not force an outcome, it trusts the Father to do what is right and best, in His way and His time. So keep praying with confidence that He hears, and with thanksgiving, and with a willingness to receive His answer as He gives it.
Prayer also does not take the place of walking responsibly before Him. Nehemiah prayed and then set a watch. He prayed and he acted with prudence. Prayer was never meant to be an excuse to do nothing, nor a way to avoid obedience. As you pray, also ask the Lord for wisdom to walk faithfully in whatever steps He shows you, living in a way that honors Him.
Even in seasons of pressure or when others oppose, God can use that pressure to deepen faith and love. So I will pray for you now to the Father in the name of Jesus.
Father, have mercy on this dear one who is calling out to You. You know the unspoken request fully, every detail and every burden behind it. I ask that You would grant according to the riches of Your glory, strength in the inner person, guidance, wisdom and peace. Let Your will be done in this situation as it is in heaven. Guard this heart from discouragement when mockery comes, and turn any reproach over to Your care. If there is anything in this request that needs to be shaped or changed to line up with Your holy design and Your word, do that gracious work. Lead into a life that is pure and pleasing to You, through Jesus Christ alone who is our only hope and Savior. Teach how to continue in prayer, to watch with thanksgiving, and to trust Your answer. Amen.
