The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received. 2 How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? 3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. 4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.”
As far as Habakkuk was concerned God was not moving fast enough. We can be disappointed in God when He is silent to our requests and doesn’t answer our problems. Why does God use patience when injustice is being done, when people are being victimized?
Habakkuk was also concerned that the government agencies which were supposed to be protecting and helping the people were failing. We don’t know how many years Habakkuk prayed to God, but he was disappointed in the waiting.
Between my Junior and Senior year of college I was a camp counselor with inner-cities kids from Harlem and East Harlem, New York. It was only my third night when there was no way I could control the kids. I prayed before I went to camp, I prayed during the training yet, had a pretty sleepless night with disrespect, swearing, and things being thrown.
I had read David Wilkerson’s book on The Cross and the Switch Blade. He told the story having a meeting with two rival gangs and a rumble was about to break out in the service. David got on his knees and prayed and the peace and presence of the Holy Spirit came. Remarkably the fighting stopped. The teens were convicted in heart and many got saved. It was with complete confidence in the Lord, not in myself, that I prayed as I never prayed before, but the activities of the campers worsened the second night. I got on my knees and prayed the power of the Holy Spirit to bring peace and conviction, only they laughed, and things escalated. The camp director came in about 2 in the morning and took a couple of the ring leaders out and sent them home the next day,
What most perplexed me was why God didn’t answer my prayers. He was silent. I was disappointed in God thinking I would give my life as a summer missionary to street kids and in my heart, I was being open and honest and He wasn’t there to pick me up.
Patience was a problem that resulted in my being disappointed in God’s silence, but I saw Him speak to three hearts later that summer who now will be in heaven. Why didn’t God answer my prayers and do for me what he did for David Wilkerson? I have no idea. God still hasn’t decided to give me an answer to why, but just gave me more assignments to do and carry on.
Application: Practice patience in your praying by trusting God.
Prayer: Lord, help me to trust in You with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding.
