“Hear Our Prayer” is typically uttered by communities as a petition asking God not just to hear about our pain, but to provide a response that conforms to our expectations.
There is no shortage of need in this world of ours. We ask that jobs are restored, that children be allowed a pathway to learning, that loved ones will be healed of whatever ails them, and that severe weather might be eluded. This is a very short list as the world we see is in turmoil all around us.
Sometimes, we feel blessed as we realize fulfillment.
Sometimes, the uttering of these three words expressing a need seems to have no effect. We embrace disappointment. We are told to cultivate patience as we experience delays. We are told that longings might be answered in unexpected ways. We are warned that our petition may see no resolution at all.
In these circumstances, we wonder if we are completely ignored. We wonder if we are simply talking to the ceiling. We consider a God that is too busy, does not care, or perhaps does not exist.
We despair.
