Surely there have been times in your life that you have asked the question of the ages:
Why is God silent?
Does He not hear me? My prayers are not being answered, maybe He doesn’t love me. Have I done something wrong?
- I don’t feel Him.
- I don’t hear Him.
- I definitely don’t see Him.
I am surely all alone in this world!
Haven’t we all been there? Maybe we have even lived there for a time? It isn’t easy.
Can we say it can be just plain difficult?
I am not one of those that is fortunate enough to hear the Lord speak in an audible voice to me every morning and say, “Good morning Nannette, time to get up, Sweet Daughter of Mine! Here is what I have planned for you today…”
But He does speak to us, in a variety of ways, mostly through His Word and prayer. And the two of them together? Even better chance you will hear that still, small voice of the Lord.
But sometimes, there is silence; and He is teaching us to trust Him.
Do you remember Thomas? Poor Thomas is still getting picked on as The Doubter. He said he wouldn’t believe that Jesus was alive unless he could see the nail marks in his hands and put his hand in his side. But Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 NIV.
Compare it to a marriage relationship. If your spouse is away on a trip, are you panicked that they don’t love you anymore?
- You can’t feel them next to you.
- You can’t see them.
- You can’t talk to them if they are busy or in meetings.
- You can’t hear them.
Does that mean that just because there is silence that their love means nothing any longer? Of course not.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Would it not be wonderful to think that the Lord is preparing us in the silence, to teach us to long for Him?
Of course, we want to be sure that there is not something keeping us from hearing from the Lord.
- If there is sin, repent.
- If there is anger, get rid of it.
- If there is someone you need to forgive, go do it.
Clean up the heart. Draw nigh to Him and He will draw nigh to you. His Word promises that.
Can we trust God even when we don’t hear from Him? When we don’t feel Him every day? He promised to never leave us or forsake us, when there is silence we lean on His promises!
Can we keep on loving Him, serving Him, telling others about Him, just because we love Him, and not because He owes us anything in return?
C.S. Lewis said, “Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not.”
He never changes, He is always the same. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8. And in an ever-changing world that is full to the brim of uncertainty, we can encourage one another by reminding ourselves of His faithfulness and remembering prayers that He has answered in the past.
You can trust Him, even in the silence.
