09/27/2020
Do you feel that your faith is insignificant, and that what you do day after day is of little consequence? Is your prayer life a quiet one, and unknown to anyone except for you, and God Himself? Are the good things you do for others done in secret, and go seemingly unnoticed? If this is true then you are a saint whose faith is known by God, precious in His eyes, and He is holding you close.
“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:6 ESV
We watch the prominent figures of our faith As they make speeches, deliver sermons, and demonstrate their faith openly for all to see, and we tend to judge our own quiet faith by them, and their notoriety, but they are called for a different purpose than the body of the Church. They have been called to bring the gospel to those that are not aware of it, and they suffer in their own flagrance because they are receiving the reward for these actions now... weeping in quiet prayer when the lights go out, and the music stops. Just like the faithful, and Jesus Himself, they must seek God, pray, and do these other things in secret.
“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”
Mark 1:35 ESV
How many prayers did Jesus pray? We only read of a few in the gospel, and yet He tells us to pray without ceasing, so how many, like your own secret prayers, did He pray that went without notice of anyone except God His Father?
“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:6 ESV
We see humble people of faith thrown into the spotlight because of that humility, and the world raises them up and honors them... but the Saint struggles with this, and wrestles to maintain their faith. I am reminded of Mother Teresa who prayed silent prayers, and wept in her fight to maintain the quiet personal relationship she had with God, and Jesus. We read what she wrote to her spiritual confidants about this, and about her struggle once she began her work in Calcutta, and it tears at our hearts. Here are three quotes from these letters the first defines the problem, the second her notoriety, and the third Her encouragement to those who similarly feel lost...
“ Before I used to get such help & consolation from spiritual direction—from the time the work has started— nothing.” - Mother Teresa
“Not All of Us Can do Great Things, but We Can do Small Things with Great Love.” - Mother Teresa
“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” - Mother Teresa
So she fought a constant battle to keep her faith, and love of God ahead of her mission, and the expectations of others. When people of faith take on such enormous missions as a part of God’s will they struggle equal to the task, and must fall back on God, and the hidden lives of the church’s silent masses for their strength. Our secret prayers, unknown aid, and hidden lives of faith, only appear to go without notice, but they are held in golden bowls before the throne of God, and rise fragrant like incense before Jesus.
“And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”
Revelation 5:8 ESV
These are the prayers that so many of us feel are unimportant, or go without notice. These are the prayers we pray secretly for saints we have never met, but who struggle in their faith. These are the prayers of intercession for others who need to be healed, while we are left wondering if it was our secret prayer that tipped the scale in God’s hand of mercy. So it is alright to feel less in moments of doubt, but always know that others have placed their prayers in those golden bowls to bolster your faith, and know that God’s grace and mercy are leading you to your ultimate reward. Your quiet life on earth is shouted in heaven.
“For the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.“ - George Eliot
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for our hidden lives with you, and all we do for you, and in relationship with you that goes without so much as an earthly whisper. We pray today for all those who are struggling in their faith. We pray for the celebrated who feel lost to you in the world, and cry before you in their quiet moments. We pray for those who feel their unheralded lives of faith are meaningless, and go unnoticed by you, even as they continue to serve you in silent suffering. Lift these up, and encourage them Father. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who lifts up the Saints, downtrodden, and lost, alike. Praised be your name for loving us, and for pouring your saving grace over us through Jesus Christ your Son and perfect vessel of redemption. Hear our prayers Lord; hear the contrition, intercession, thanksgiving, pleas for forgiveness, and desperation in them. Make straight the way for the humble who know no help but you, and find no comfort save yours. Wash us Jesus in your cleansing blood, and bring us pure, and free of all sin, before judgement, and seat us at the table of our Father where we will dine forevermore.
““Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:1-4, 6, 17-18 ESV
Rich Forbes