Friday, October 8, 2021

When Our Prayers Seem But In Vain...

 

How do we explain an Invisible God
with often seemingly invisible answers to prayer?
We can't.
How do we get faith?
By trusting Who we cannot see by believing His Word.
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
John 17:17

See Heb.10 && 11&12 for more encouragement in faith
Without faith it is impossible to please God
Heb.11:6

...consider Him (Jesus) who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself,
lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Heb.12:3

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for He who promised is faithful.
Heb.10:23


 

When our prayers seem but in vain
In a world so full of pain
Trouble, terror, hunger, grief
Apathy and unbelief

When replies for which we plead
Do not seem to intercede
Dark the night and deep the vale
Where prayer sometimes seems to fail

When we groan, bereft of word
When reasoning’s best is blurred
When like waves that surge and beat
Rock-bound shores, our prayers repeat

God, still help us to believe
When we seem not to receive
When the faithless scorn and jeer
At prayers You seem not to hear

God, lest our faith grows cold
Call to mind those men of old
Examples of faith and love
This world was not worthy of

Help us suffer to obtain
Faith’s better and greater gain
Joining clouds of witnesses
Trusting in Your promises

Trusting, without present proof
Sanctify us with your Truth
Your Word is Truth, come what may
So, we pray and pray and pray

© Janet Martin

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry;
hold not thy peace at my tears:
for I am a stranger with thee,
and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary.
To one without faith, no explanation is possible.


There is a way that seems right to a man, 
But its end is the way of death.
Prov.14:12

2 comments:

  1. That line 'When we groan, bereft of word' describes it so well. Some days, many days, there just are no words for the groans of our heart. I'm glad He takes our wordless prayers and holds them dear to his own heart. Thank you, dear lady with the beautiful words. xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. <3 thank-you, dear friend with your faithful, beautiful words of encouragement for all those wordless groans/prayers. This poem was inspired in part as I shook the hand of a young husband/father at his wife's visitation last Sunday. This week I pour out groans that God would hold that family near with strength, comfort and courage to go on where it may seem our prayers failed. Seems like SO much sorrow and shock rocks this community constantly!(A constant reminder of the fragility and transience of this life)

      Delete

I hope you enjoyed your pause on this porch and thank-you for your visit!