This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
1 John 5:14-15

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It’s tempting to stop praying. Or never to start. The idea of speaking from the heart into the void makes no earthly sense. Why bother breaking the silence? If I need something, go get it. If I’m struggling with something, deal with it. If I’m hoping for something, wait it out or let it go. Just because people say prayer works doesn’t mean it will for me—or some may think. While it’s natural to question the point of prayer, don’t dismiss it just yet. I love G.K. Chesterton’s candor about faith in God: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.” This certainly rings true when it comes to praying. Prayer, like any discipline, is inherently difficult. It’s also essential for anyone who longs to align with God’s will in life. Before deciding not to pray, I urge you to stay close to El Shama for a season first.

El Shama is Hebrew for “the God who hears.” This is initially comforting when hope feels impossible, but challenging when all you hear back is silence. Did God listen? Am I asking for the wrong thing? How do I know my hope is in step with what matters most to El Shama? Jesus taught His followers to pray, “Your will be done…” (Matt. 6:10, Luke 22:42). But maybe my wires are crossed between “my will” and “Thy will”?  First John 5:14–15 claims I can grow in confidence that God hears and answers. If I choose to pray today, is my heart ready to listen for a response I don’t expect?

If God has ever answered your prayers with “Yes,” “No,” or “Wait,” you’ve been close to El Shama before. If all you’ve heard back is deafening silence, assurance that He’s listening, cares, and will ever respond is still up in the air. Truthfully, these encounters happen more than once for anyone faithfully seeking to follow Jesus. The God who hears simply invites us to pray, to keep praying, to continue speaking from our heart as it’s shaped by Him. In time, as we patiently practice prayer, what matters most to us will match what matters most to God. So, let’s stay close to El Shama and listen, with confident hope, for whatever answer He provides.

Next Steps

It’s harder to stay close to God when He’s silent or answers prayers with a clear, “No.” Rather than let this shake your confidence in El Shama, keep praying and allow Him to keep shaping your heart.

What is something you hope God will do between now and Christmas? Tell Him about it and practice staying close while you wait.