Did you ever ask God, “why did you allow this to happen? Why is there so much evil in the world?” I asked God these questions several months ago when a 15-year-old boy shot and killed five people in my neighborhood, including his 16-year-old brother, and wounded two others.
In the Bible, a prophet named Habakkuk asked God similar questions. God appointed Habakkuk as a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah when Israel was divided into the northern and southern kingdoms. Judah was about to be conquered by the Babylonians and exiled to a foreign land.
Habakkuk pours out his heart to God about the evil going on in Judah. The Bible says, “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save” Habakkuk 1:2 (NIV).
Habakkuk felt as if God had abandoned His people. Do you feel like God has abandoned you? Do you pray and endure suffering, but find no answer or comfort from God? Yes! I know you have felt this way, just like I have.
So, what to do when you don’t hear from God? Let’s find out more from God’s Word in the book of Habakkuk.
Wait and keep praying
When you are seeking answers, who do you go to? Friends? Family? Or your spouse? Habakkuk sought God because God wants us to share our questions, doubts, and fears.
Sometimes I’m sure God has much bigger issues to tackle than mine. But even if you don’t hear from God, keep talking to Him and studying His Word.
Habakkuk shows us how to wait. After Habakkuk asks God his second question, he resolves to wait expectantly on God’s answer in Habakkuk 2:1 (NIV).
We must also await God’s answer.
Trust God’s sovereignty
God surprised Habakkuk by revealing He will use the enemy, the wicked Babylonians, to punish Judah, but Babylon will eventually be conquered by Assyria (Habakkuk 1:5-7). Not exactly the news Habakkuk wanted to hear.
When you don’t hear from God, trust He is sovereign and will even use evil for His good purposes.
What does sovereignty mean? It means God has the power, wisdom, and authority to do anything He chooses. It doesn’t mean everything that happens is from God, because we have free will to choose our own way. However, it means God allowed it to happen.
Rejoice despite our circumstances
Sometimes I feel like nothing is going my way. Problems pile up and I do not think God is listening to me. What if you are praying for something for a long time and you don’t hear from God?
Habakkuk still offered praise to God despite his suffering. Even if everything he counted on was gone, he would still trust in God and rely on Him for strength. Habakkuk wrote:
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” Habakkuk 3:17–18 (NIV).
Maybe you don’t have olive groves, vineyards, flocks, and fig trees, but what if everything you counted on was gone? What if you had an empty refrigerator, or even no place to live, no job or way to make any money?
Habakkuk trusted God, rejoiced in his salvation, and praised God despite losing everything. Could you rejoice even when you don’t hear from God and your circumstances don’t change?
What can we always count on? God’s love, our salvation, our future home with Jesus. No one can take those things away.
Final thoughts
I may never know how God uses the mass shooting in my neighborhood for good. However, I know for sure He will.
It’s difficult when you don’t hear from God, but He welcomes our honest questions. Learn from the prophet Habakkuk—wait and keep praying, trust in God’s sovereignty, and rejoice despite circumstances.
Are you going through something tough right now? God knows already, but ask Him about it. He longs to hear from you!
