when our God is *silent*

Why does it often seem as if we serve a silent God? If omnipresent, how can He appear so withdrawn?

Far too many times, I’ve wandered around in the dark, bearing a heavy load a shattered heart. Crying out to God with a soul so full of fear and questions, in a time when I needed Him the most, why is it that I heard no reply? Not a single sound... except for the echo of my own tears.

Surely, He was there, right? He promised, remember? But why wouldn’t He just speak? Were my confused cries really that loud that they drowned out His gentle, loving whispers of peace and promise?

Far too often, we expect to be saved by our strong God, but for some reason that faith instantly runs out when we wonder why the answers don’t come. What about the times we’re so upset that we have received no answer that we are oblivious to the fact that our Lord is holding us in the palm of His hand? In those times, it is all to easy to forget the One who is greater than our pain. We get frustrated and anxious, and then when He is ready to speak, we miss it since our minds are too busy watching pain and doubt swirl wildly around our heads. We must remember to stop, stand still, and wait for it. Faith is difficult, and waiting is even more difficult. But only when we are paused in the silence of strong faith, holding onto the last string of His hopeful promises, can He can calm our anxious hearts and give us peace. With His words of comfort and reassurance, He will hold us until He is certain we are ready to receive our answer. We must trust that He is omniscient and His ways are perfect. When it’s the right timing - when we are in the right state of mind and the right spiritual condition, and when His beautiful plan is in position, then will our answer come.

I’ve been waiting for answers for years. Others months, some only days. The longest struggles are the hardest. I can’t tell you that I haven’t wanted to just give up on my answers, pick up my broken pieces, and limp away.. but where is the faith in that? It’s easy to cry until your soul is dry and jump out of God’s hands of safety, but what good would ever come of that? As miniscule as any faith and hope in our souls may seem, we must hang on like our entire world depends on it. Because it does.

That’s where trust comes in. See, all this stuff they teach you in Sunday School really does connect. Without trusting, we would see no purpose to contend for our faith, and without faith, we wouldn’t be able to know that peace and promise aren’t too far away. Close your eyes, and forget about your feelings. Dig down deep to find whatever bit of faith you can, and you’ll see it. I promise. This stuff is good and true. We serve a beautiful God who, if we keep up our end of the deal, promised never to let us fall.

And if that’s not enough to keep you believing, one day, our God will open His mouth and whisper, My child, it is finished, and we will never know pain again.