God DOES hear

Psalm 10:1-5 AMPC

Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself, [veiling Your eyes] in times of trouble (distress and desperation)? [2] The wicked in pride and arrogance hotly pursue and persecute the poor; let them be taken in the schemes which they have devised. [3] For the wicked man boasts (sings the praises) of his own heart's desire, and the one greedy for gain curses and spurns, yes, renounces and despises the Lord. [4] The wicked one in the pride of his countenance will not seek, inquire for, and yearn for God; all his thoughts are that there is no God [so He never punishes]. [5] His ways are grievous [or persist] at all times; Your judgments [Lord] are far above and on high out of his sight [so he never thinks about them]; as for all his foes, he sniffs and sneers at them.

An exiled pastor from Iran cried as he told of his young son mourning about the suffering of the people in the uprising on the streets of Iran.

His son said: "Why doesn't God answer?"

We've all felt this despair when it looks like the Lord has turned His face away from our cries for help.

Every honest believer has walked this lonely path of doubt, where it seems evildoers have prospered in their schemes and the oppressed are terrorised.

None of us can explain tragedies and injustices - therein lies the question mark of every true, mature faith.

In these circumstances we must not let our faith be choked out of believing.

Matthew 13:20-21 NLT

The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. [21] But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word.

Carry on believing in the face of contradictory circumstances - that's the hallmark of real faith:

Romans 4:20 NLT

Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.

Carry on praying, carry on believing and the answer WILL come because God DOES hear and answer prayer.

Luke 18:1-8 NLT

One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. [2] "There was a judge in a certain city," He said, "who neither feared God nor cared about people. [3] A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, 'Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.' [4] The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, 'I don't fear God or care about people, [5] but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'" [6] Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. [7] Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to His chosen people who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? [8] I tell you, He will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will He find on the earth who have faith?"