When God Doesn’t Answer Right Away
What do you do when you’re waiting—desperately—and God doesn’t seem to answer? When you need clarity, and all you get is silence?
Here’s what I’ve learned:
Sometimes, JUST STOP ASKING.
Stop Asking?! Yes.
I know, I really do. That sounds like giving up.
But it’s NOT. If you’re yelling questions and comments at another person, can you hear what they have to say? Of course not!
And half the time when we don’t hear from Him, that’s exactly what’s going on! He DOES have your answer. He has a great answer. He has the best answer. But You. Won’t. Listen.
We can get so tangled in our own anxiety—so busy wondering and analyzing—that we actually can’t hear Him. Because God can sure speak in the earthquake—but He’s as likely to speak in a quiet whisper.
Hello, Elijah and the Still Small Voice. In all our desperate questioning, the quiet whisper of God gets drowned out.
This works often when God IS ready to give us the answer and we won’t listen. More than once I’ve given up my question to Him in the afternoon. And in the morning He hits me with it while I’m turning on the coffee maker.
No exaggeration. It’s both funny and spectacular.
And sometimes He’s NOT going to give you the answer you WANT. Because your best and highest is not what you want and hope for. It’s relationship with Him. Remember that this life is important but it’s short. Choose Him above all others.
What Are HIS Questions of You?
He is asking His own question of you:
“Do you trust Me more than these?
Do you trust Me more than provision?
Do you trust Me more than protection?
Do you trust Me more than health?”
Now, don’t misunderstand—God deeply cares.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)
But God’s gifts come in order of priority.
First and foremost: Atonement, forgiveness, salvation.
Second: Relationship with Him, the one who is Love.
Every other gift flows from those. And because He loves us, He’s generous with them! But if the blessings we long for would pull us away from that core relationship with Him… sometimes, He’ll hold back.
Because that deep, loving connection with God is more important than anything else in this life.
While You’re Waiting
No matter what you’re waiting and questioning about, sometimes the waiting stretches for months or years. Times when we’re grieving something truly devastating. When our lives have been irrevocably changed. Or when we’re struggling with something deep inside—an addiction, a disorder, a tendency that won’t let go.
“Lord, heal me.”
“Lord, show me the way.”
“Lord, help me to finally change.”
And we keep praying. Then, over time—sometimes years—we start to notice the change.
My Own Long Wait: A Breakthrough
I’ve had one of those long waits myself. For decades, really.
It has to do with something that seems simple—marketing.
Since 2003, I’ve worked for myself. First as a copywriter. Later, as a spiritual director. I’ve always been good at the work itself. But marketing? Marketing felt like wandering in a fog. I hated it. Found it confusing. Overwhelming. Full of too many choices. I rarely stuck with any one approach long enough to see momentum build. And even when I did, I often disliked the methods so much, I’d stop anyway.
Eventually, I realized part of the struggle came from undiagnosed ADHD—especially the executive functioning piece. That explained a lot.
Still, the confusion remained. It was painful. Heavy. Unshakable.
But then something happened. I brought it to prayer. And not just once. I asked a longtime prayer partner to lift it up. Then I invited two different prayer groups to pray for me around this very specific issue.
And just a few days ago—after years of confusion—it lifted. Just like that.
It’s gone. I know what to do.
No, I haven’t suddenly become the World’s Greatest Project Manager. 😄
But now I can see the path forward—the one that works with the way God made me: creative, dreamy, scattered, passionate.
It isn’t hard anymore. It’s doable. And it’s mine.
Praise God in the highest!
So, trust Him. That is a deliberate choice, and the Holy Spirit will lift you up in it. Your answer might flood in the next morning over the coffee maker. Or it might be 30 years in coming.
Why God waited, we might not know this side of heaven.
But we know He’s good.
And we know He’s all the answer we really need.
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