The Mystery of an Unspoken Request

There are no secrets in the throne room of God.

In church lingo, an “unspoken request” is something too heavy, too complicated, or too private to bring up in front of everyone during an invitation to share one’s need for prayer.

The following is a story about one such request.

A woman slipped into the back pew of a small Sunday evening church service.

As the pastor began the prayer time, he asked for any requests.

He reminded them, “No need is too small or too great. We are all part of the church family, and we are never alone in our problems.”

The pastor noticed the woman’s tears as she sat silently. After hearing all the needs, he felt prompted to say one more thing.

“Before we pray, is there anyone who might have an unspoken request? Just raise your hand. God knows all about it, we don’t need to.”

She slowly slipped up her hand. The pastor nodded in acknowledgment.

After he’d prayed about every situation mentioned, he added, “And Holy Spirit, come support the one who has made an unspoken request. We know in the throne room of God, there are no secrets.”

Knowing there were probably others who were too timid to raise their hands, He closed the time by reassuring the congregation, “We need not worry or fear, for God knows and cares about every request, spoken or not.”

Psalm 139:1-4 (ESV)
1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up
you discern my thoughts from afar.

3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

Friend, your most private pain may be hidden from others, but there are no secrets from God.

He personally knows what hurt, frustration, and sorrow reside in the deepest parts of your heart. He understands even when we can’t put it into words.

If you feel helpless, hopeless, or alone in your situation, take your unspoken requests to God.

1 John 5:14 (NKJV)
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him,
that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us”

Lay them at His feet. (Philippians 4:6)

Trust Him today. (Proverbs 3:5)