He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,

the world did not recognize him.

He came to that which was his own,

but his own did not receive him.

John 1:10-11

Have you ever felt like your prayers were not being answered? One day I had a mom in my office who was struggling with her teenager. She shared how she has been praying and praying and praying for God to intercede in her teen’s life but there was no answer. All she heard from God was silence.

The sad part is I don’t believe there was silence. In fact, in this particular situation I believe that God was using me to minister to this hurting mom. But every time I tried to share something this mom, because she didn’t want to hear what I had to say, she would interrupt me and keep on talking. All she wanted to talk about was the situation which was out of control. She was not willing to listen to some practical advice that God wanted to speak to her in love.

We can learn much from 2 Corinthians 5:20 which says, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

Many times, I believe, that God uses His children to minister to those who are hurting. He sends us to others as His answer to prayer. But we do not recognize Him and we receive Him not.

Although the Israelites knew the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 that their King would come riding on a donkey, they still did not recognize Him when He came. They expected Him to come in great glory, not lowly and gentle (Matthew 21:5).

Is there something that you have been praying about in which you feel as if God is not answering? Has He sent somebody to you with His answer, but you did not recognize it was from Him because you expected God to work in a different way? Remember, our ways are not God’s way. He is speaking to us. We need to be willing to listen.

Dear Lord, please help me to listen and help me to recognize when You want to speak to me as though You were making Your appeal through another. Help me to receive You. Help me to recognize You. May I be reconciled to You so that I can become all that You created me to be. I love you Lord. Amen.

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