10 Verses For When It Feels Like God Is On His Lunch Break

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. – 1 John 5:14

A while back, I was talking with one of my friends about prayer, and she said something that really struck a chord. She said, “Kristen, I just feel like my prayers aren’t getting anywhere. It’s like I’m trying to talk to God, but it feels like He’s on His lunch break and He’s not hearing me.”

Have you ever felt that way before? I know I have. There have been plenty of times over my years of following Jesus where it felt like my prayers were hitting the ceiling. It’s like if God had an iPhone, it was set to Do Not Disturb.

It can be a frustrating place to be when something is really heavy on your heart. When you want to talk to God about something, you want to know He’s listening. Even more than that, you want it to feel like He’s listening…like He’s there.

As I continued talking with my friend, I gave her the advice that my mentor gave me a few years before. Just because something doesn’t feel true doesn’t mean it isn’t true. It’s times like these you have to remind yourself of what you know to be true, even if your feelings aren’t matching up. In other words, we can’t let our feelings inform what we believe is true, we have to let the truth inform our feelings.

So if you’re struggling today with wondering if God’s hearing your prayers, and if it feels like God is on His lunch break, I hope you’ll soak in and meditate on these truths from His Word. After all, He promises over and over again that He is listening to us, He cares for us, and He always hears the prayers of His children.

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For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. – 1 Peter 3:12

I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me! – Psalm 66:17-20

We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. – John 9:31

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. – Matthew 21:22

Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. – Mark 11:24

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:16

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. – Psalm 34:17 

The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. – Proverbs 15:29

Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. – Isaiah 65:24