When God seems silent

There comes a time in our Christian walk when God seems silent. When we face unmet expectations. When everything we see around us seems to be the opposite of what we've prayed for. Ever feel like your prayers were falling on deaf ears? If you have, then you can relate when Job says ‘I beg God for help but there is no answer…' (Job 30:20) or ‘where is God the one who gives songs in the night?'(Job 35:10).Some days it feels like God has moved house and left no forwarding address! So what does it mean when he doesn't respond? What's he up to? Here are some lessons you can learn from his silence.

Silence isn't absence!

David said I can never escape from your spirit I can never get away from your presence (Psalm 139:7 NLT) you have to be very secure with somebody just to sit quietly with them. Silence takes the emphasis off words and builds an intimacy where words are no longer necessary. If you want to be that comfortable around God then learn to enter into the silence with him.

Silence tests your trust

How much trust is actually involved if somebody's coaching your every step? It's like a parent running alongside a child who is learning how to ride a bike. Right now the child lacks confidence but he is going to look strange at 50 years if his dad's still trotting along beside him! You see, at some point God takes his hands off the wheel to see how far you have progressed-and for a while it will be a wobbly ride however it demonstrates how far you've come and where you are placing your trust.

His delays are not denials

Sometimes we feel he has denied us by delaying and has abandoned us by not answering. But even if it's a denial it is surely in our interest! Jesus knew about abandonement.in his darkest hour he cried my God why have you forsaken me? (Matt 27:46).when God is silent it doesn't mean nothing is happening. Have you ever tried to sit and watch a seed grow? You can't. Can you? it stays in the earth till the time is right for it to emerge and because you too have things planted deep inside you, you must sit quietly before God in order for them to surface and grow. Furthermore because certain issues have undermined your life for years only silence forces them to emerge so God (and you) can deal with them. The bible says ‘it's wrong to say God doesn't listen…the almighty isn't concerned …..He will bring about justice if you wait. (Job 35:13-14).God knows when to withhold or grant visible signs of encouragement. It's good when he sends confirmation but we grow faster when we've trusted him without it. Those who do always receive the greatest visible evidence of his love. I want you to know that God answers every prayer; it's just that across some he writes, ‘the time is not yet come'! How long will it last? You always will ask and Job also asked the same question(Job31:35)because it takes a long as it takes and feels scary the whole time eventually you prayers become less about getting answers and more about connecting with God.

Don't be offended!

John the Baptist didn't deserve imprisonment in a filthy dungeon. After all he was the forerunner of the messiah, voice of repentance in the community and also a direct cousin of Jesus! So when he was imprisoned he sent a message to Jesus asking ‘are you really the messiah or should we keep looking' (Matthew 11:13 ).paraphrased it will imply; when are you going to get me out of here? It was a human question motivated by unmet expectations. Have you ever been there? Have you wondered, ‘where is God when am hurting? And it feels worse when you are working for him either as a pastor, choirister, usher or prayer warrior! You get tempted to want to look for another God because this one seems to have failed. I read about a Christian lady called Meg Woodson she wrote the following when her daughter who served God Faithfully died : ‘I'll never forget those shrill piercing screams; that the God who could have helped, looked down on this young woman who was devoted to him and decided to sit on his hands and let her death top the horror charts.' talk about unmet expectations!

The Jesus who walked on water, raised the dead, cast out demons and healed the sick could have saved John. But he didn't . Instead he sent back a reply which in essence said, ‘don't worry, everything is on target. The kingdom's being built; you have fulfilled your assignment well and don't be offended at me! (Matthew 11:4-5). It probably wasn't the answer John hoped for or expected. he was looking for solutions to temporary problems while Jesus was establishing an eternal kingdom. John got offended. Eventually his head was cut off. Learn to wait on God and accept his answer. There are two forms of answers in this world. It is either Yes or No and any of them could be an answer from him and any of them that comes from him is the best for us as far as he is concerned.

Most people always expect a Yes answer so when the answer is No we still accuse God for not answering. Don't change your God or your commitment to him. Don't resign from church, department or the living of a holy life because God hasn't answered your prayer in the way you want it. He is not a politician and your decision to be angry with God and withdraw your service to him will still not change his mind about you and the situation. He will not be worried about your action. He may eventually replace you because he has many children and can use any of them. You have only one God and you can't bluff him so stay patient and he will give you the best!

So next time God doesn't seem to meet your expectations or time frames it's not that he doesn't care but it's that he sees the bigger picture and is handling issues you can't begin to comprehend. Just trust him!

May the Lord give you understanding in these things.

I love you.

Apostle James Hansen-Sackey
(General Overseer)