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Why Doesn't God Answer?
Not long ago I heard a story about a young man
and an old preacher. The young man had lost his job and didn't know which way
to turn. So he went to see the old preacher.
Pacing about the preacher's study, the young
man ranted about his problem. Finally he clenched his fist and shouted,
"I've begged God to say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why
doesn't God answer?"
The old preacher, who sat across the room,
spoke something in reply--something so hushed it was indistinguishable. The
young man stepped across the room. "What did you say?" he asked.
The preacher repeated himself, but again in a
tone as soft as a whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning
on the preacher's chair. "Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear
you." With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more.
"God sometimes whispers," he said, "so we will move closer to
hear Him."
This time the young man heard and he
understood. We all want God's voice to thunder through the air with the answer
to our problem. But God's is the still, small voice. . .the gentle whisper.
Perhaps there's a reason. Nothing draws human
focus quite like a whisper. God's whisper means I must stop my ranting
and move close to Him, until my head is bent together with His. And
then, as I listen, I will find my answer. Better still, I find myself closer
to God.
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