The older boys had been dropped off at school. With more opportunity to share his thoughts, Watts (the 4 yr old) commented “I don’t think God hears me.” Thankfully I was listening and my typical distracted “uh huh” response failed to come out.
“Why do you think God doesn’t hear you?”
“Well, I asked him to help me find my Lego and I didn’t find it. So he didn’t hear me.”
At the corner of Greenville and Lovers Lane I explained an important attribute of God. I helped shape preschool theology at a stop light.
“Sweet boy, God always hears you. In fact, He knows what you are going to say before it even gets to your tongue (Ps. 139). But sometimes what we are asking for doesn’t get the answer we want. He may say, ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘just wait’. But amazingly, He is everywhere and knows everything and hears everyone all at once.”
Few other truths are taught in Scripture with as great clarity as the doctrine of divine omnipresence...They declare that God is immanent in His creation, that there is no place in heaven or earth or hell where men may hide from His presence. They teach that God is at once far off and near, and that in Him men move and live and have their being. {A.W. Tozer}
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While attempting to load the frozen block of ground beef into the microwave and hit the defrost button, I balance a squirmy toddler on my hip. Knox repeatedly begs for a “gummy”.
Once a day he gets a little gummy vitamin. But in his mind one is not enough. Shouldn’t he get one every time he stands in front of the cabinet and repeats: “Gummy, gummy, gummy”, waving his little left hand,using the sign for “all done”. (He has wrongly assumed the hand wave communicates “gummy” since every time he asks for one, I respond with “All done, gummies” and wave my hand.)
The tantrum begins after he tells me what he wants and doesn’t get it. He knows I understand and hear his request. And yet, I’m not giving him what he asks for.
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When I first heard that my dear friend “may” have lost her son, I pleaded with God. “Please let this baby live. Please don’t take her son.” But the answer was “no”. He had a different plan.
Sometimes hearing “no” makes me feel like He must not have heard.
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Like when my childhood friend, Tom, (who suffers from a neuroimmune disease called, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or M.E.) awoke in the middle of the night with extreme neuropathic pain (feeling like his central nervous system is on fire). His devoted wife stayed up with him, rubbed his back and prayed for the Lord to ease his pain.
Even she admits, “I cried out for help from the Lord. Once again it seemed the Lord did not hear me, but I know He did. I have learned that what I know about God is the truth, what I feel in those moments of crisis are often deceptive, tempting me away from my hope in the Lord.” (read more of their story here)
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“In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, ‘Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.’” (1 Samuel 1:10-11)
The priest Eli wrongly assumed in her state she must have been drunk. When she corrected him, saying she has not been drinking merely pouring her heart out to God. He assured her “Go in peace.”
Months later she named her longed-for son “Samuel” meaning, “God has heard”.
“I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill.” (Psalm 3:4)
“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Ps 34:4)
“And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will,He hears us…” (1 John 5:14)
Know God…is with you and hears.
What are you pleading with God for today? Do you feel like He must not be listening?
I would love to join you in prayer, either add your request to the comments below or send me an email.
For the first post in this series click here: Know God…is close to the brokenhearted.
Oh so love this! And all you write, for that matter! Thankful for the opportunity you had to teach some preschool theology! God hears! Amen!
wow. thank you lindley for your kind words. May you freely cry out to Him at any moment and know He hears. blessings chica!
You have no idea how much I needed to read this. Hear this. Know this. God has continually used your blog to help me through some of my most difficult, challenging days in marriage and motherhood. He speaks to me at these times through your writings… My thoughts and prayers go out to Tom and his family, also to your friend who has lost her baby and secerly injured… My middle son (3 yrs old) is currently being assessed for a possible disorder and the journey we have been on with him has almost seemed to much, at times. Many times over the past 2 1/2 yrs… If you could uplift him in prayer and myself as well.. For guidance, patience, and answers for help. Thank you.
sister in Christ,
Melanie
blown away by your words here Melanie, since I wondered if I was going to turn readers away by talking about God. But large numbers of readers don’t even matter if what I wrote helped you so greatly. thank you for taking the time to encourage me and to share what is going on in your family. Praying alongside you…Lord, I lift up Mel’s 3 yr old to you. Any time our expectations go unmet, and we find ourselves in unknown territory, we feel overwhelmed and alone. Bring friends around Mel who know what she is going through…a kindred mom who can give her hope in a time she feels discouraged. May you give Mel guidance, patience and wisdom. May she get answers from the assessment to make do the next right thing in regards to his care. Bless her Lord in clear ways so You may be glorified. Amen.
I am pleading, ironically to WANT to plead with Him about anything. I am currently in a really good place and I find myself thankful and joyful but not pleading. There is not much dialogue at the moment.