God Hears Everything

<p>One of the longest-recorded postal delays in history lasted eighty-nine years. In 2008 a homeowner in the UK received an invitation to a party originally mailed in 1919 to a former resident of her address. The note was placed in her mailbox via the Royal Mail, but the reason behind its long delay remains a mystery.</p> <p>Even the best human efforts at communication sometimes let us down, but Scripture makes clear that God never fails to hear His faithful people. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah demonstrated the striking contrast between Baal, the fertility pagan god worshiped by many in ancient Israel, and Jehovah God. In a showdown to demonstrate who the true God was, after Baal&rsquo;s prophets had prayed for hours, Elijah taunted them: &ldquo;Shout louder! . . . Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened&rdquo; (1 Kings 18:27). Then Elijah prayed for Jehovah to answer so that His people might return to faith; and God&rsquo;s power was clearly displayed.</p> <p>While our prayers may not always be answered as immediately as Elijah&rsquo;s was that day, we can be assured that God hears them (Psalm 34:17). The Bible reminds us that He treasures our prayers so much that He keeps them before Him in &ldquo;golden bowls,&rdquo; like precious incense (Revelation 5:8). God will answer every prayer in His own perfect wisdom and way. There are no lost letters in heaven.</p>