WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:10.820 As we progress our journey through this series on prayer, and we think today about that question 00:00:10.820 --> 00:00:23.000 when it feels like God doesn't answer prayer, I want to talk about something that has the 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:49.519 power to make us feel so deeply uncomfortable. And it's this. Silence. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:01:00.340 Silence. Now sometimes silence is something that we associate with tranquility, peace and quiet. 00:01:00.980 --> 00:01:09.219 There are times when we crave for that. But that's not the type of silence that we're thinking about 00:01:09.219 --> 00:01:16.980 when we think about the kind of prayer and that sense of anguish that we may get over the sense 00:01:16.980 --> 00:01:25.880 that God doesn't seem to be listening. I'm talking about the kind of silence that perhaps 00:01:25.880 --> 00:01:31.680 we might associate with times of waiting. Think of situations in our lives when that happens. 00:01:32.520 --> 00:01:38.960 Maybe you've gone for a job interview. And those closing words are something like, oh, thank you, 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:45.579 we'll be in touch. And then you wait. And you wait. And you wait. 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:59.319 Maybe you've got something going on medically and you have some tests. And then there's that time 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:04.939 between having gone for the examination and the waiting for the results. And you don't know when 00:02:04.939 --> 00:02:08.219 that's going to be. And you're waiting for that phone call or that letter. 00:02:13.259 --> 00:02:18.840 Maybe there's that silence when there's been some situation of conflict or potential conflict 00:02:18.840 --> 00:02:24.599 with somebody else. And you send that message and you're trying to sort of put things right with them. 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:30.479 Maybe you sent them a message or something. You're just waiting for them to get back to you 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:35.060 because you don't know what the outcome's going to be. And it feels that that kind of relationship 00:02:35.060 --> 00:02:42.439 situation that feels oh so fragile is just kind of there on hold. And you're waiting. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:49.139 Those are just a few examples. And I'm sure we could think of plenty of others. 00:02:50.019 --> 00:02:53.359 Where silence, the silence of waiting is agonising. 00:02:53.360 --> 00:03:01.300 Seconds can seem like minutes. Minutes can seem like hours and hours can seem like days. 00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:10.140 That's the kind of silence, the kind of waiting that this psalm is about. 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:16.360 The kind of silence that we can experience in our prayer life. 00:03:16.360 --> 00:03:22.340 Where we ask God for something. We reach out to God for something. 00:03:22.860 --> 00:03:24.600 We want to hope 00:03:24.600 --> 00:03:28.400 in a particular outcome in prayer. 00:03:31.060 --> 00:03:32.680 And yet no matter how hard 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:34.440 and how sincerely we pray 00:03:34.440 --> 00:03:38.500 it feels like it's met with silence. 00:03:39.240 --> 00:03:40.820 It's as though God is on mute. 00:03:40.819 --> 00:03:48.039 Let's remember that these words of these psalms, 00:03:48.139 --> 00:03:50.759 my God, my God, why have you forsaken me, 00:03:51.019 --> 00:03:54.659 are the words that we hear according to Matthew and Mark's gospel, 00:03:55.159 --> 00:03:56.439 Jesus on the cross. 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:02.620 And that itself tells us something so, so powerful. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:06.240 That central to our faith 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:08.159 as followers of Jesus 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:11.620 is that Jesus himself 00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:14.319 and his finest hour 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:16.000 and his darkest hour 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:19.120 cried out those same words. 00:04:19.699 --> 00:04:22.680 When you and I cry out that same sense, 00:04:22.779 --> 00:04:23.879 God, where are you? 00:04:24.420 --> 00:04:26.899 And it feels that he's just silent, 00:04:27.060 --> 00:04:28.939 that he's not engaging with our prayers. 00:04:33.339 --> 00:04:35.920 We actually find ourselves in solidarity 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:38.360 with Jesus himself on the cross. 00:04:40.379 --> 00:04:41.560 You're not alone 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:45.520 because Jesus himself cries out 00:04:45.520 --> 00:04:46.840 that prayer. 00:04:47.640 --> 00:04:48.600 Why God? 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:49.680 My God, 00:04:50.379 --> 00:04:51.660 why have you forsaken me? 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:55.960 And because 00:04:55.960 --> 00:04:58.500 we are not alone 00:04:58.500 --> 00:05:00.879 in that sense of agony, 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:06.120 but know that Jesus is with us 00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:06.779 in it, 00:05:08.339 --> 00:05:12.279 then we can know 00:05:12.279 --> 00:05:15.319 that the same God of resurrection hope 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:17.560 is with us 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:19.139 and always will be. 00:05:20.819 --> 00:05:22.500 So what might we say then 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:24.680 about that experience 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:25.719 of silence? 00:05:25.719 --> 00:05:27.199 And I'm assuming 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:29.339 that every single person in this room 00:05:29.339 --> 00:05:30.699 and every single person 00:05:30.699 --> 00:05:31.959 listening to this online 00:05:31.959 --> 00:05:33.239 will have experienced 00:05:33.239 --> 00:05:34.879 that at some point 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:35.519 in their lives 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:36.859 and probably 00:05:36.859 --> 00:05:38.060 to some extent 00:05:38.060 --> 00:05:39.139 right now. 00:05:40.359 --> 00:05:41.359 That sense 00:05:41.359 --> 00:05:42.979 where you ask God 00:05:42.979 --> 00:05:44.060 and yet 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:44.979 this feels 00:05:44.979 --> 00:05:45.899 that the prayer 00:05:45.899 --> 00:05:46.759 is met 00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:47.959 with silence. 00:05:48.159 --> 00:05:49.219 What might we say? 00:05:50.219 --> 00:05:51.439 Let me be really clear 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:52.039 about this. 00:05:52.779 --> 00:05:54.019 Anything I'm about to say 00:05:54.019 --> 00:05:54.879 is not intended 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:56.239 as an oversimplification. 00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:58.939 And I'm very suspicious 00:05:58.939 --> 00:06:00.280 of any pat answers 00:06:00.280 --> 00:06:01.879 to deep searching questions. 00:06:02.100 --> 00:06:02.860 So that is not 00:06:02.860 --> 00:06:03.660 what is being offered 00:06:03.660 --> 00:06:04.259 right now. 00:06:05.860 --> 00:06:07.460 But I share this with you 00:06:07.460 --> 00:06:08.060 as a thought 00:06:08.060 --> 00:06:09.340 that I've found very helpful 00:06:09.340 --> 00:06:10.960 and continue to find helpful. 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:12.819 And it's this. 00:06:14.180 --> 00:06:15.060 That silence 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:16.780 makes us feel uncomfortable. 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:18.400 It may make us feel uncomfortable 00:06:18.400 --> 00:06:19.300 in all sorts 00:06:19.300 --> 00:06:20.660 of everyday situations. 00:06:21.160 --> 00:06:22.240 But it particularly 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:23.759 can make us feel uncomfortable 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:25.699 when it comes to our prayer. 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:29.060 But maybe, 00:06:29.259 --> 00:06:29.839 maybe, 00:06:30.099 --> 00:06:30.899 just maybe, 00:06:31.099 --> 00:06:32.480 there are those times 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:34.539 when silence 00:06:34.539 --> 00:06:36.659 can actually function 00:06:36.659 --> 00:06:39.079 creatively 00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:41.680 and purposefully. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:44.980 And what I'm talking about here 00:06:44.980 --> 00:06:46.639 is silence 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:47.899 as a form 00:06:47.899 --> 00:06:49.219 of communication. 00:06:49.220 --> 00:06:49.360 communication. 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:52.320 Because 00:06:52.320 --> 00:06:53.860 without silence 00:06:53.860 --> 00:06:55.080 we actually 00:06:55.080 --> 00:06:56.380 can't communicate. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:06:59.120 Unless there are 00:06:59.120 --> 00:06:59.740 pauses 00:06:59.740 --> 00:07:02.200 between words 00:07:02.200 --> 00:07:03.600 and between sentences 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:04.440 nothing will ever 00:07:04.440 --> 00:07:05.180 make sense. 00:07:06.740 --> 00:07:07.940 We need silence 00:07:07.940 --> 00:07:08.920 in everyday 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:09.980 communications 00:07:09.980 --> 00:07:11.220 in order 00:07:11.220 --> 00:07:12.180 to understand 00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:12.780 one another. 00:07:15.340 --> 00:07:16.140 Years ago 00:07:16.140 --> 00:07:17.160 when I was a student 00:07:17.160 --> 00:07:18.420 and I have no idea 00:07:18.420 --> 00:07:19.360 how this happened 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:21.860 and it hasn't happened 00:07:21.860 --> 00:07:22.920 before or since 00:07:22.920 --> 00:07:24.600 but I was working 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:25.320 on a dissertation 00:07:25.320 --> 00:07:27.140 and 00:07:27.140 --> 00:07:28.460 something 00:07:28.460 --> 00:07:29.160 happened 00:07:29.160 --> 00:07:31.100 with my computer 00:07:31.100 --> 00:07:33.080 and I lost 00:07:33.080 --> 00:07:34.100 every single piece 00:07:34.100 --> 00:07:35.040 of punctuation. 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:39.620 We're talking about 00:07:39.620 --> 00:07:41.000 10,000 words. 00:07:42.200 --> 00:07:43.160 No full stops 00:07:43.160 --> 00:07:44.460 no commas 00:07:44.460 --> 00:07:45.300 no colons 00:07:45.300 --> 00:07:45.620 nothing. 00:07:45.620 --> 00:07:47.079 one 00:07:47.079 --> 00:07:47.800 long 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:48.840 meaningless 00:07:48.840 --> 00:07:49.759 sentence. 00:07:51.280 --> 00:07:51.959 Now there was 00:07:51.959 --> 00:07:52.699 more than one 00:07:52.699 --> 00:07:53.620 of my tutors 00:07:53.620 --> 00:07:54.280 that would say 00:07:54.280 --> 00:07:55.199 that that sums up 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:56.139 the style of my writing 00:07:56.139 --> 00:07:56.660 anyway 00:07:56.660 --> 00:07:59.340 but on this occasion 00:07:59.340 --> 00:08:00.319 there were basically 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:01.379 everything was removed. 00:08:01.459 --> 00:08:02.120 I got it back 00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:03.120 again I don't know how 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:04.199 but all the 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:04.840 punctuation 00:08:04.840 --> 00:08:05.319 had gone 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:05.899 it was missing. 00:08:08.040 --> 00:08:09.160 You take the pauses 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:09.480 out 00:08:09.480 --> 00:08:10.579 nothing makes sense. 00:08:12.840 --> 00:08:13.939 Remember a few years ago 00:08:13.939 --> 00:08:15.139 I actually saw a road sign 00:08:15.139 --> 00:08:16.979 that had been hand painted 00:08:16.979 --> 00:08:19.159 and a really vital 00:08:19.159 --> 00:08:20.759 exclamation mark 00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:21.539 was missing 00:08:21.539 --> 00:08:23.199 so the punctuation 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:23.620 had gone 00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:24.500 and it just had the words 00:08:24.500 --> 00:08:25.060 on the sign 00:08:25.060 --> 00:08:25.819 and the sign 00:08:25.819 --> 00:08:27.159 was meant to say 00:08:27.159 --> 00:08:28.000 slow 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:30.279 men at work. 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:37.179 You take 00:08:37.179 --> 00:08:39.220 the punctuation 00:08:39.220 --> 00:08:39.700 out 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:41.039 you take the silence 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:41.419 out 00:08:41.419 --> 00:08:42.500 and you lose 00:08:42.500 --> 00:08:42.919 the power 00:08:42.919 --> 00:08:43.599 to communicate. 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:45.899 That's true 00:08:45.899 --> 00:08:46.379 in language 00:08:46.379 --> 00:08:47.219 it's true 00:08:47.219 --> 00:08:47.939 in physical 00:08:47.939 --> 00:08:48.439 things 00:08:48.439 --> 00:08:49.559 art or architecture 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:50.159 for example. 00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:51.419 Think how any 00:08:51.419 --> 00:08:52.079 piece of 00:08:52.079 --> 00:08:52.919 architecture 00:08:52.919 --> 00:08:53.379 is giving 00:08:53.379 --> 00:08:53.879 its sense 00:08:53.879 --> 00:08:54.639 of beauty 00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:55.000 its sense 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:55.620 of form 00:08:55.620 --> 00:08:56.120 its sense 00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:56.879 of structure 00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:57.919 not just 00:08:57.919 --> 00:08:58.559 through what is 00:08:58.559 --> 00:08:58.740 there 00:08:58.740 --> 00:08:59.120 but through 00:08:59.120 --> 00:08:59.740 what isn't 00:08:59.740 --> 00:09:00.039 there 00:09:00.039 --> 00:09:00.519 through the 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:01.000 spaces 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:01.799 the gaps. 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:06.599 it's true 00:09:06.599 --> 00:09:07.479 in music 00:09:07.479 --> 00:09:10.179 unless you have 00:09:10.179 --> 00:09:10.799 the pauses 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:11.859 the silences 00:09:11.859 --> 00:09:12.479 the rests 00:09:12.479 --> 00:09:12.939 well 00:09:12.939 --> 00:09:15.659 you lose it all. 00:09:18.059 --> 00:09:19.099 Handel's Messiah 00:09:19.099 --> 00:09:21.500 the hallelujah 00:09:21.500 --> 00:09:22.000 chorus 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:22.359 and 00:09:22.359 --> 00:09:23.779 there's that 00:09:23.779 --> 00:09:24.819 that pause 00:09:24.819 --> 00:09:25.319 that gap 00:09:25.319 --> 00:09:26.120 that silence 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:27.259 before that thunderous 00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:27.979 hallelujah 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:29.000 you lose 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:29.639 the silence 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:30.159 you lose 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:30.639 the thunder. 00:09:33.259 --> 00:09:34.360 Let's never 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:35.320 underestimate 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:36.120 the power 00:09:36.120 --> 00:09:37.539 of silence 00:09:37.539 --> 00:09:38.340 as a form 00:09:38.340 --> 00:09:39.379 of communication. 00:09:41.740 --> 00:09:42.500 Maybe 00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:43.500 just maybe 00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:44.680 when our 00:09:44.680 --> 00:09:45.320 prayers 00:09:45.320 --> 00:09:45.879 are met 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:46.300 with what 00:09:46.300 --> 00:09:47.019 we perceive 00:09:47.019 --> 00:09:47.840 as silence 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:48.820 actually that 00:09:48.820 --> 00:09:49.620 silence is 00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:50.120 something 00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:51.620 that God 00:09:51.620 --> 00:09:52.980 is using 00:09:52.980 --> 00:09:54.740 through which 00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:55.360 to speak. 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:58.039 now the 00:09:58.039 --> 00:09:58.600 sceptic will 00:09:58.600 --> 00:09:59.120 be listening 00:09:59.120 --> 00:09:59.539 to this 00:09:59.539 --> 00:09:59.800 and think 00:09:59.800 --> 00:10:00.159 oh yeah 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:01.100 but that's 00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:02.360 what you're 00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:02.879 talking about 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:03.240 there is 00:10:03.240 --> 00:10:03.519 just the 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:03.820 God of 00:10:03.820 --> 00:10:04.440 the gaps 00:10:04.440 --> 00:10:05.080 I mean 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:06.200 the silence 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:07.159 of your 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:07.440 God 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:08.100 effectively 00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:09.220 just represents 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:09.980 the emptiness 00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:10.680 of heaven. 00:10:11.259 --> 00:10:11.779 The reason 00:10:11.779 --> 00:10:12.680 why God 00:10:12.680 --> 00:10:13.200 is silent 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:13.580 is because 00:10:13.580 --> 00:10:14.180 God's just 00:10:14.180 --> 00:10:14.820 not there. 00:10:16.419 --> 00:10:16.720 Now at 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:17.279 face value 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:18.060 that's a 00:10:18.060 --> 00:10:18.720 very very 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:19.259 sensible 00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:20.960 response 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:24.220 but it 00:10:24.220 --> 00:10:24.620 misses an 00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:24.940 important 00:10:24.940 --> 00:10:25.500 point. 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:27.179 And the 00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:27.580 point is 00:10:27.580 --> 00:10:28.019 that there 00:10:28.019 --> 00:10:28.340 is all 00:10:28.340 --> 00:10:28.720 the world 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:29.480 of difference 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:30.519 between 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:32.179 live silence 00:10:32.179 --> 00:10:33.279 and dead 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:33.980 silence. 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:35.159 Let me 00:10:35.159 --> 00:10:36.100 explain what 00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:36.440 I mean. 00:10:36.919 --> 00:10:37.500 Imagine you 00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:37.960 walk into 00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:38.539 a restaurant 00:10:38.539 --> 00:10:39.659 and you 00:10:39.659 --> 00:10:40.100 look around 00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:40.759 the room 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:41.320 and there's 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:41.639 a number 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:42.259 of couples 00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:43.019 sat around 00:10:43.019 --> 00:10:43.740 tables. 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:44.960 In one 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:45.539 corner over 00:10:45.539 --> 00:10:46.480 here you 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:46.960 see one 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:47.960 couple and 00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:48.820 they're silent. 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:50.139 Over here you 00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:50.580 see another 00:10:50.580 --> 00:10:51.220 couple and 00:10:51.220 --> 00:10:51.940 they're equally 00:10:51.940 --> 00:10:52.480 silent. 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:53.259 And yet there's 00:10:53.259 --> 00:10:54.220 two very 00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:55.279 different things 00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:56.179 going on and 00:10:56.179 --> 00:10:56.840 it's apparent 00:10:56.840 --> 00:10:57.799 just by looking 00:10:57.799 --> 00:10:58.279 at them. 00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:01.019 The couple 00:11:01.019 --> 00:11:01.860 over here 00:11:01.860 --> 00:11:03.059 are silent 00:11:03.059 --> 00:11:05.879 because they've 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:06.399 just not got 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:07.139 anything to say 00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:07.860 to each other. 00:11:09.700 --> 00:11:10.700 They're bored. 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:12.879 They've run 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:13.679 out of words. 00:11:14.039 --> 00:11:14.580 That's dead 00:11:14.580 --> 00:11:15.259 silence. 00:11:18.220 --> 00:11:18.679 Meanwhile 00:11:18.679 --> 00:11:19.480 over here in 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:19.819 this other 00:11:19.819 --> 00:11:20.500 corner there's 00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:20.940 a couple 00:11:20.940 --> 00:11:22.440 that are 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:23.100 gazing into 00:11:23.100 --> 00:11:23.679 each other's 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:24.220 eyes and 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:25.159 you can tell 00:11:25.159 --> 00:11:25.960 without the 00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:26.679 need for 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:27.539 any words 00:11:27.539 --> 00:11:28.240 whatsoever 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:29.919 that they're 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:30.460 so deeply 00:11:30.460 --> 00:11:31.000 in love. 00:11:34.460 --> 00:11:35.299 They're not 00:11:35.299 --> 00:11:35.779 speaking 00:11:35.779 --> 00:11:37.799 because they 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:38.639 don't need 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:39.740 to speak. 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:43.139 That silence 00:11:43.139 --> 00:11:43.659 is more 00:11:43.659 --> 00:11:44.399 powerful than 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:45.059 any amount 00:11:45.059 --> 00:11:45.679 of words. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:45.799 silence. 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:49.879 So how 00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:50.539 might we 00:11:50.539 --> 00:11:51.299 interpret 00:11:51.299 --> 00:11:52.459 then the 00:11:52.459 --> 00:11:53.639 live silence 00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:54.339 that might 00:11:54.339 --> 00:11:54.739 be the 00:11:54.739 --> 00:11:56.000 reality when 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:56.439 we are 00:11:56.439 --> 00:11:57.139 seeking to 00:11:57.139 --> 00:11:57.879 engage God 00:11:57.879 --> 00:11:58.439 in prayer 00:11:58.439 --> 00:11:59.099 and we 00:11:59.099 --> 00:11:59.919 cry out 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:00.979 my God 00:12:00.979 --> 00:12:01.519 my God 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:02.079 why have 00:12:02.079 --> 00:12:02.899 you forsaken 00:12:02.899 --> 00:12:03.839 me as the 00:12:03.839 --> 00:12:04.419 words of that 00:12:04.419 --> 00:12:05.159 psalm put it 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:05.719 and as 00:12:05.719 --> 00:12:06.559 indeed as 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:07.219 Jesus puts 00:12:07.219 --> 00:12:07.719 it on the 00:12:07.719 --> 00:12:08.019 cross. 00:12:08.319 --> 00:12:08.799 How might 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:09.679 we interpret 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:11.139 our experiences 00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:12.480 of apparent 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:13.159 silence 00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:15.799 in our 00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:16.319 prayers? 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:20.919 Again 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:21.759 this isn't 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:22.399 intended as 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:22.779 formula 00:12:22.779 --> 00:12:24.699 but I find 00:12:24.699 --> 00:12:25.259 it helpful. 00:12:26.699 --> 00:12:27.399 Bill Hybels 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:28.220 many years ago 00:12:28.220 --> 00:12:28.819 suggested 00:12:28.819 --> 00:12:30.460 that there 00:12:30.460 --> 00:12:31.519 may be three 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:31.960 things 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:32.919 and they all 00:12:32.919 --> 00:12:33.360 happen to 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:33.679 rhyme. 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:37.659 The first 00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:38.000 thing 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.340 is that God 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:39.840 might say 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:40.139 no. 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:42.779 And that's 00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:44.419 when the 00:12:44.419 --> 00:12:45.039 silence just 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:45.480 means no 00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:46.100 because the 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:46.699 thing that we 00:12:46.699 --> 00:12:47.120 are praying 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:48.000 for is wrong. 00:12:48.299 --> 00:12:48.899 It's not 00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:49.240 good. 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:50.019 It's not 00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:50.419 in our 00:12:50.419 --> 00:12:50.960 interests. 00:12:51.799 --> 00:12:52.279 It's not 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:52.720 healthy. 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:56.100 Dear God 00:12:56.100 --> 00:12:56.980 please give me 00:12:56.980 --> 00:12:57.620 that Ferrari. 00:12:57.799 --> 00:12:58.259 I could do 00:12:58.259 --> 00:12:59.059 your work so 00:12:59.059 --> 00:12:59.639 much quicker. 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:03.879 Sometimes if 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:04.720 the prayer is 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:05.799 wrong, if 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:06.399 it's selfish, 00:13:06.620 --> 00:13:07.279 if it's wrongly 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:07.980 motivated, if 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:08.700 it's not in our 00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:09.299 interest or in 00:13:09.299 --> 00:13:09.840 the interest of 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:10.899 others, then 00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:11.500 the answer is 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:12.220 simply no. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:16.179 But sometimes 00:13:16.179 --> 00:13:17.459 the answer isn't 00:13:17.459 --> 00:13:18.360 no, it's just 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:19.100 slow. 00:13:20.319 --> 00:13:21.240 In other words, 00:13:21.419 --> 00:13:22.279 the timing is 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:22.500 wrong. 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:23.500 The thing that 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:24.360 God is going 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:25.139 to give, that 00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:25.899 we are praying 00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:27.019 for, will 00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:27.779 happen in the 00:13:27.779 --> 00:13:28.559 course of time. 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:30.779 But it's just 00:13:30.779 --> 00:13:31.759 that right now, 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:33.519 it's not that 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:33.860 time. 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:35.559 Now sometimes 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:36.460 we can look back 00:13:36.460 --> 00:13:37.100 on our lives and 00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:37.799 we can see the 00:13:37.799 --> 00:13:38.419 way in which that 00:13:38.419 --> 00:13:39.279 silence eventually 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:39.980 has been broken. 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:41.059 Where God has 00:13:41.059 --> 00:13:41.759 answered prayers 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:42.360 that previously 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:43.720 we thought he 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:44.100 wasn't. 00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:46.579 And sometimes 00:13:46.579 --> 00:13:47.500 we can look back 00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:47.980 and it makes 00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:48.419 sense and it 00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:48.799 understands. 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:49.480 I realise I 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:50.120 was asking God 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:50.699 to do that in 00:13:50.699 --> 00:13:51.319 my life back 00:13:51.319 --> 00:13:52.299 then and it 00:13:52.299 --> 00:13:52.919 didn't happen 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:53.799 and I'm so glad 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:54.639 now on reflection 00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:55.259 that it didn't 00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:56.220 happen then because 00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:56.939 the timing was 00:13:56.939 --> 00:13:57.179 wrong. 00:13:57.439 --> 00:13:57.959 Yet it happened 00:13:57.959 --> 00:13:59.000 this later stage 00:13:59.000 --> 00:13:59.559 in my life and 00:13:59.559 --> 00:14:00.240 that was when it 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:00.699 was right and I 00:14:00.699 --> 00:14:01.319 can see it, I 00:14:01.319 --> 00:14:01.699 get it. 00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:04.300 There are other 00:14:04.300 --> 00:14:05.360 experiences in our 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.400 lives where actually 00:14:06.400 --> 00:14:07.379 God doesn't answer 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:08.200 straight away but he 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:09.320 does much later and 00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:10.220 it just doesn't make 00:14:10.220 --> 00:14:11.140 sense to us at all 00:14:11.140 --> 00:14:12.140 why we had to 00:14:12.140 --> 00:14:12.480 wait. 00:14:13.820 --> 00:14:14.700 And that's why we 00:14:14.700 --> 00:14:15.840 call Christian faith 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:16.920 faith because there 00:14:16.920 --> 00:14:17.660 are things that we 00:14:17.660 --> 00:14:18.560 just don't understand 00:14:18.560 --> 00:14:19.520 and won't understand 00:14:19.520 --> 00:14:20.280 this side of 00:14:20.280 --> 00:14:20.740 eternity. 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:24.180 Sometimes God 00:14:24.180 --> 00:14:26.320 just says slow. 00:14:27.259 --> 00:14:28.520 I will answer your 00:14:28.520 --> 00:14:29.340 prayer, it's just 00:14:29.340 --> 00:14:29.879 not yet. 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:33.059 So sometimes the 00:14:33.059 --> 00:14:33.939 request is wrong and 00:14:33.939 --> 00:14:34.500 God says no. 00:14:34.939 --> 00:14:36.799 Sometimes the timing 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:37.620 is wrong and he 00:14:37.620 --> 00:14:38.759 just says slow. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:41.059 But there are other 00:14:41.059 --> 00:14:43.439 times perhaps when 00:14:43.439 --> 00:14:44.399 there's something wrong 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:45.399 with our own lives 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:46.200 that we've got to put 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:47.039 right first. 00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:49.120 In which case God 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:49.720 says you've got to 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:50.019 grow. 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:53.000 It may be that 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:53.679 there's something, 00:14:53.940 --> 00:14:54.919 we are praying for 00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:56.559 God to do something 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:57.539 in our lives all the 00:14:57.539 --> 00:14:58.240 while that we are 00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:59.120 aware that there is 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:00.139 some certain 00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:01.279 situation that we 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:01.960 are refusing to 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:02.679 listen to that we 00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:03.600 won't put right. 00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:05.379 Something where if we 00:15:05.379 --> 00:15:06.600 dig deep down inside 00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:07.659 we know it's not 00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:08.899 right, it is wrong, 00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:10.019 it is profoundly 00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:10.500 wrong. 00:15:11.320 --> 00:15:12.120 Maybe it's a 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:13.080 relationship that we 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:14.000 haven't tried to put 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:14.340 right. 00:15:14.820 --> 00:15:16.039 Maybe it's something in 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:17.100 our lifestyle that 00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:18.120 actually we know that 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:19.080 that is not right, 00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:19.960 that that is not 00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:20.840 pleasing to God. 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:22.720 And yet we still 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:23.720 keep on doing it. 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:26.420 if that's us, 00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:27.240 let us not be 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:30.060 surprised if our 00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:31.259 prayer life seems to 00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:32.420 be met with silence. 00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:34.100 Sometimes it is a 00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:35.180 simple thing but a 00:15:35.180 --> 00:15:36.700 real thing that we 00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:37.779 just need to make 00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:38.899 certain changes in 00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:39.980 our own lives. 00:15:41.420 --> 00:15:42.519 And God says, 00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:46.600 silence, you've got 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:46.920 to grow. 00:15:48.660 --> 00:15:49.879 Sometimes then God 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:50.940 says no when the 00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:51.720 request is wrong. 00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:52.800 Sometimes if the 00:15:52.800 --> 00:15:53.820 timing is wrong, he 00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:54.379 says slow. 00:15:54.800 --> 00:15:55.759 Sometimes if there's 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:56.580 something wrong with 00:15:56.580 --> 00:15:57.360 ourselves, with our 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.000 own hearts that we 00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:58.700 need to put right, then 00:15:58.700 --> 00:15:59.300 God says you've got to 00:15:59.300 --> 00:15:59.580 grow. 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:02.100 But if all of those 00:16:02.100 --> 00:16:02.820 things are in place, 00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:03.759 then God says go. 00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:06.660 The important thing 00:16:06.660 --> 00:16:07.580 with all of this 00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:07.899 though, 00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:12.519 is not to stop. 00:16:15.220 --> 00:16:15.899 Because these things 00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:16.500 are a mystery. 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:20.500 And sometimes that 00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:22.139 silence can meet us 00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:23.779 in a way that, you 00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:25.360 know, we just can't 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:26.179 make sense of it. 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:27.559 Or at the time it 00:16:27.559 --> 00:16:28.179 just doesn't make 00:16:28.179 --> 00:16:28.559 sense. 00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:30.100 And the important 00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:31.139 thing there is not 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:32.080 to give up praying. 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:34.700 But to keep on 00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:35.960 putting Jesus front 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:37.059 and centre. 00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:38.620 Even when it doesn't 00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:39.080 make sense. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:40.159 One last story and 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:40.580 then we're going to 00:16:40.580 --> 00:16:40.860 pray. 00:16:43.259 --> 00:16:43.659 Illustration. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:46.279 And it's to do with 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:47.620 a particular type of 00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.639 plant called a 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:50.120 Chinese bamboo plant. 00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:50.699 There's a particular 00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:51.799 variety of Chinese 00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:52.960 bamboo which grows in 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:54.299 a very unusual way. 00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:57.759 You take the seed of 00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:58.480 this plant and you 00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.419 put it in the soil and 00:16:59.419 --> 00:17:00.139 you water it and you 00:17:00.139 --> 00:17:01.100 fertilise it for about 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:01.539 a year. 00:17:02.699 --> 00:17:03.860 And nothing happens. 00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.379 You do this for 00:17:06.379 --> 00:17:07.279 another year, more 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:08.680 fertiliser, more water, 00:17:08.879 --> 00:17:10.299 and you wait for a 00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:11.000 second year and 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:11.299 nothing. 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:14.180 Year three, more 00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:15.359 water, more fertiliser, 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:16.799 more waiting, 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:17.539 nothing. 00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:19.359 Year four, water, 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:20.639 fertiliser, waiting, 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:21.519 nothing. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:25.159 In the fifth year of 00:17:25.159 --> 00:17:27.000 watering, fertilising, 00:17:27.099 --> 00:17:29.579 and waiting, a little 00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:30.960 shoot will poke up 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:33.399 through the surface and 00:17:33.399 --> 00:17:36.200 then grow anything up 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:39.599 to 90 feet in six 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:40.019 weeks. 00:17:42.919 --> 00:17:44.019 Here's a question. 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:48.019 How long does it take 00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:49.500 for that thing to 00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:49.799 grow? 00:17:52.159 --> 00:17:53.039 Six weeks? 00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:56.619 Or five years? 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:01.019 Let's pray. 00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:12.859 Lord, you know what it 00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:17.220 can be like to face 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:19.119 that agony of silence. 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:23.579 You've shown us that 00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:24.619 you know what that is 00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:25.940 like through the cross. 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:29.680 Lord, right now in our 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:33.240 own experience, there 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.299 may be all sorts of 00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:35.279 different reasons why 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:36.519 we feel that sense of 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:38.120 silence and it can be 00:18:38.120 --> 00:18:39.380 painful. 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:41.539 It can be agonising. 00:18:44.320 --> 00:18:45.480 Lord, right now in the 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.980 midst of that silence, 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:50.400 help us to put you 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:52.360 front and centre and to 00:18:52.360 --> 00:18:53.660 keep on keeping on and 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.600 not to give up. 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:58.559 Lord, grant us the 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:00.000 ability to hear that 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:02.059 silence, to interpret 00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:03.480 that silence, to 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:05.099 discern the meaning of 00:19:05.099 --> 00:19:06.000 that silence. 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:10.959 Search our hearts, help 00:19:10.959 --> 00:19:13.099 us to understand the 00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:14.379 nature of the things that 00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:15.359 we are praying for. 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:20.759 Lord, in the midst of our 00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:22.240 waiting, whatever that may 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.559 mean, whatever that looks 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:24.420 like right now. 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:27.440 Fill us and go on 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.339 filling us with the 00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:29.359 power of your spirit. 00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:32.279 Be at the centre and may 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:33.400 we not give up in our 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:33.799 prayers. 00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:36.859 Help us to trust in you. 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:41.079 Now as we continue to 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:43.259 worship and in the time to 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:43.599 come. 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:45.980 In Jesus' name. 00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:47.500 Amen.