Prayer in the Midst of God’s Silence

Prayer in the Midst of God’s Silence Written by Steven Wierenga This last year is about as close to Job’s life as my story’s been so far. My wife and I uprooted our lives in Colorado, moved back to Michigan, had a car die, and lost a close friend in an accident, all the while working three jobs to stave off rising costs of living. Our prayers of establishing normalcy and a semblance of routine have seemingly gone unheard. We aren’t the only ones disappointed when God seems silent. The psalmist cries out from frustration, from a place of abandonment. Their friends have shunned them, and they’re not even sure God is listening– they might as well be talking to themself. Whatever the source of the psalmist’s pain, they believe God to be the main instigator. The human will to press on in dire circumstances is impressive but, done without God, only leads to burnout and indifference. There can even be a sick solace in despair: surely no one else has it as hard as me! Human attempts to numb our sorrow will lead to any number of dismal conclusions. The prayer of lament – like in Psalm 88 – is the healthiest (but hardest) way of coping with pain and grief. God searches our hearts and minds (Jer. 17:10); He knows our hurts and struggles. Bringing our pain to him is an acknowledgment of our frailty, our hurt, and our need for help.