In my senior year of high school, I had this super smart, super talented, super awesome friend. Because of her undeniable awesomeness, she had numerous colleges wanting her to pick them as her place of study. Auditions were held, fancy scholarships were being thrown at her from all sides, perks were being offered...it was a mess. But a good mess to be in nonetheless.
Long story short: my friend had literally no idea which college she wanted to go to. How does someone who's barely an adult make a decision like that anyway? I mean, it basically determines at least the next four years of your life.
One day we were counseling with each other about the decision (for the umpteenth time) via iMessage. After my friend expressed her grief and frustration, accompanied with more than a few crying face emojis, I finally suggested to her, "Maybe you should pray about it?"
Then, she replied something along the lines of, "I have been praying. I've been praying this whole time, but it seems like God just isn't answering."
...
Huh. I wonder how many millions of believers have shared this same thought. We find ourselves in a struggle, we turn to God, and we pray, but it seems like God just isn't answering.
I am guilty of harboring this doubt in my heart a time or ten. I'm sure some of you have felt this way too, which is why I have shared this story with you. Below is my reply to the above text, only in (a much longer) article form.
So let's say you're in a situation like my dear friend: you're at this crossroads, about to make a huge decision in your life, and you're asking God to tell you what the right path is. You pray, you wait, you pray some more, and then...nothing happens. Time passes, countless prayers go up, and you still feel just as confused as you did when you first started. What then?
You asked God to give you an answer, and He heard you. I promise. He knows you seek direction, so you don't have to keep pleading with Him about it. Now all you have to do is wait, be faithful, be trusting, and listen.
God is in everything. He is working in every part of your life, and He will use the people and the things around you to speak to you, but it is your responsibility to listen.
He could reveal something to you in a song that you hear—for some reason one of the lyrics sticks out to you or strikes a chord with you in a way that is different than before. It could be in the words from your teachers or parents or friends. Something they say somehow relates to you exactly, as if they just read your mind. It could be in a Facebook post or a video shared on your News Feed. It could be in an article link.
And don't mistake this as a stressful thing. Don't think, "oh no, was that a sign from God I was supposed to catch? Did I miss it?!?! AHH—"
Shh. No, none of that.
That's the good thing about serving God. He loves us, and He wants to make our lives happy and pleasant. He wants us to feel taken care of and safe in His hands. All you honestly have to do is relax, be still, and listen.
Don't stop praying, though. The Bible tells us to pray constantly (pray as much as you can), so, instead, try to change the tone of your prayer.
Instead of pleading for guidance, make your prayer one of thanksgiving. Thank Him for hearing you and for loving you so, so much. Thank Him in advance for showing you the answer, because you have faith that He will.
Instead of expecting a straight, "burning bush" answer, and then becoming angry when you don't get one, ask Him to make you alert and aware to His voice so that you may recognize it more easily.
Lastly, spend some time with Him and relax in His presence. He has you. I promise He already has it all figured out. That's His job.
The truth is, God always answers those who call upon Him. We just don't always see it, or when we do see it, we don't credit Him for it; we call it "coincidence" instead.
Just be open, be still, and know that He is God and that He will guide you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He is faithful—always, always faithful.
After all, He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God.'" - Psalm 46:10
