Silence Can Be Golden!

Relationships depend on communication – and good relationships depend on good communication.  While there are always times of silence in healthy relationships, an underlying assumption in any relationship is that communicating – with both hearts and words – will resume in a timely manner and allow the relationship to continue to grow and flourish.

This is also true of our relationship with God – to be healthy it must include times of silence and times of active communication from both sides.  But have you ever experienced God’s silence?  We have been led to believe that, if we experience the silence of God, there is something wrong with us.  But sometimes God chooses to be silent in order to grow and mature us.  In other words, God’s silence can be intentional and have a distinct purpose.  Sometimes the silence of God is what properly prepares us for future service for him.

One of the most common responses we have when we experience God’s silence is to interpret it as an indication that he is inactive or disinterested in us.  But that response is based on feelings – which can never be trusted.  The Bible makes it clear that God is always present with us – regardless of what we feel.  No matter what it feels like, it is impossible to be separated from God (Romans 8:38-39).  We are always in God’s presence, and he is always present with us.  Trusting his presence can make all the difference during the times when he chooses to be silent in our lives.  We can choose to restore the truth about God in our hearts and focus on who he really is rather than who he appears to be in the silence.

And here’s what God can do with a trusting heart: our faithfulness expressed in perseverance during his silence becomes a powerful tool against the enemy.  This in turn allows our story of victory to be used by God in future ministry for him as we are better equipped to help others who are struggling with God’s silence. 

We don’t like silence – from God or anyone else.  But that says more about us than it does about God.  I want to be willing to persevere whenever God is silent in my life and continue to trust confidently in his presence and the value of his silence so that I can be victorious against the enemy and be used by God in the future in the lives of others.  Praying you will do the same . . .