I want to bring to your notice the things we mostly don’t talk about as Christians concerning prayer.
When you’re a baby in Christ, it looks like God answers every prayer of yours, but as you grow in your Christian faith, you realize that He stops “pampering” you. I believe God intentionally does that to teach us so many things about life and about Himself. Many believers see prayer as a communication, which is true, but prayer goes beyond that. Others see prayer as a weapon, which is true, but prayer goes beyond that. Others see prayer as a love affair, which is true, but prayer goes beyond that. Prayer is the life of a believer, and as life, sometimes, it is deeper than we think. We face things that are easy, situations that we don’t understand, circumstances that are difficult, situations that only God has the answer to, etc. … such is life. In the same vein, prayer can sometimes feel that way, where it looks like we don’t even understand prayer or God. It feels like prayer bounces back at us. It is on this premise that I want to look at the theme, "The Unspoken Realities of Prayer".
These are 5 things I want to share with us by the help of God.

  1. SOMETIMES PRAYER BRINGS TROUBLE.
    Many believers sometimes say that when I wasn’t serious with my prayer life, my life was fine, but the moment I became serious with my prayer life, my situation became sore. Understand that sometimes being serious with your prayer life is like declaring war in the spirit. The enemy will come at you because, to him, you want to prove stubborn, so he will start to throw weapons at you. It is your duty to fight till you win. The good news is that as believers, we fight from the point of victory. When you start praying about something, and you see that you’re being whipped in your dreams, attacks here and there, know that you’ve declared war, so there's no need to stop but keep fighting till you win. You’ve strength within you to fight any battle you declare, but more often than not, most Christians give up and allow the enemy to continue to possess that territory. Fight till you win. Daniel 6:10-16 Daniel’s habit of praying got him thrown into the lions’ den. His enemies used his prayer life against him. Prayer brought trouble, but God used it to display His power. Prayer brought about that attack or trouble but it’s that same prayer that can solve it. Keep on.

  2. PRAYER DOESN’T ALWAYS CHANGE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT IT CHANGES YOU.
    Sometimes, God's answer to our prayers isn't a change in situation, but a change in perspective, heart, or character. This can be tough to accept, especially when we're desperate for a specific outcome. Funny enough, it happens when we’re desperate for results. God knows that if your character or heart doesn’t change, the answer to your prayer can damage you, so He starts to work on it. You may be looking for results, but God may be looking for your survival. This is where the scripture Romans 8:28 comes in; all things work together for your good. Believe God that the situation won’t kill you but will mould you.
    2 Corinthians 12:7-10: The thorns in the life of the Apostle Paul weren't removed, but he gained strength in weakness. God thinks about your sustenance more than just the answer to your problems. When you encounter a situation like that in life, know that God is working all things for your good, though not be easy to deal with but trust God and His process. There may be anger, lust, impatience, pride, etc that your maker is dealing with in you. Soren Kierkegaard said, “Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays."

  3. ASKING QUESTIONS IS PART OF PRAYER
    The Bible is full of examples where people asked God questions. It’s very okay to ask God questions but do not question God. There’s what we call the prayer of inquiry in Scripture, and it is to investigate matters by the Spirit and in the Spirit. You should develop the attitude of asking questions: why answers to prayers have been delayed, why you’re going through hell, if you should enter that marriage or not, etc. Our doubts and uncertainties should move us to ask God questions, and for your information, God is very okay with that. Habakkuk 1:2-4: Habakkuk questioned God's justice but still waited on Him. 1 Samuel 30:8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
    David also inquired of God concerning a matter, and God gladly gave him an answer. Feel free to ask God questions concerning your relationship, your next move in life, and God will be glad to answer.

  4. PRAYER ISN’T ALWAYS ABOUT GETTING ANSWERS.
    Sometimes, prayer is about doing the will of God or finding peace, comfort, or endurance in the midst of uncertainty. God's presence or peace may be the answer you need, even if the situation doesn't change.
    Matthew 26:36-46 Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, not asking for the cup of suffering to be taken away, but for God's will to be done.
    Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
    For the joy that was set before Him, He had to endure the cross. The joy set before him made him go through the pain and suffering. After 13 years of Joseph going through pain, he understood that God sent him before his brethren to preserve lives. If the prayer of Joseph was for God to take him back to his father, it would have been a wrong prayer or God wouldn’t have answered the prayer not because God doesn’t hear prayer but because of the destiny of Joseph as a generational preserver. Sometimes the goal of prayer is not just for results but for grace to endure the pain, for the will of God to prevail, to have peace that makes no sense, and to have joy in chaos. Sometimes what you need is a go-through, not a breakthrough. It’s in the valley of the shadow of death that you learn to fear no evil.

  5. GOD'S TIMING IS NOT OUR TIMING
    You need to settle this in your heart that God’s timing isn’t your timing. He sees what you cannot see, knows what you do not know, and hears what you cannot hear, and so His ways are past finding out. We often want immediate answers to our prayers, but God's timing may be different from ours. As believers, it’s expedient that we intentionally grow our patience and trust in the Lord, knowing that He's working behind the scenes. When you step into your waiting season, your patience and trust level is what can help you. It’s okay not to understand, but to wait and rest in God even when answers don’t come.
    From Genesis 15-21, Abraham and Sarah waited decades for a child God Himself promised. It came to pass, but not on their timeline. Let me make it clear here that it’s not every delay that is God’s time; sometimes the enemy may be behind it, and so you need to enter into a prayer of inquiry to be sure that it’s not the enemy behind your delay. Again, let me say that the fact that it’s God’s time doesn’t mean just be there and wait for it to happen. You need to pray it into being. God’s time is always the best; remember that.

CONCLUSION
God can be silent, and in the state of His silence, you need to trust Him and His process. When God is silent, it doesn’t mean He’s absent. Sometimes the best solution is to get to God, not just to get an answer. It’s your duty to trust God that all things will work together for your good. Charles Spurgeon said, “God is too kind to do anything cruel, too wise to make a mistake, too deep to explain Himself. WHEN WE CAN'T TRACE HIS HAND, WE MUST TRUST HIS HEART". Be strengthened
“Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬ ‭TPT‬‬ So be made strong even in your weakness by lifting up your tired hands in prayer and worship. And strengthen your weak knees.”
‭‭God Bless You

Dennis Nemi