It is discouraging when God goes silent during difficult times. But what do you need to do when God is silent?
Be Still
Psalms 46:10 (NIV) – “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.””
When God is silent, He is working to bring the best to your life. His silence does not mean that He does not care about you anymore. When you notice that God is silent, sometimes all you need to do is to be still. Staying calm amid life’s struggles and challenges can do you greater things than you could ever think of.
You are better positioned to hear the gentle voice of the Lord when you are calm. The truth is, sometimes we think that God is silent when He is constantly talking to us. This happens when we surround ourselves with noisemakers or when we become noisemakers. Our noises and the noises around us prevent us from hearing the voice of the Lord.
Trust in God
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
When God seems silent in your suffering, raise the bar of your faith in Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 mentions one of the things God does when we put our faith in Him; He makes straight the paths of those who trust in Him. Isaiah 40:31 says that He renews the strength of those who put their trust in Him. Jeremiah 17:7-8 mentions that He refreshes and waters those who trust Him so that they can bear fruit even in the dry season.
Therefore, when you feel like God is silent, put your trust in Him even more. It is natural to feel like He is not concerned about what you are going through. But, it is powerful when you choose to trust His ways during this time.
Don’t Stop Praying
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV) – “Pray continually.”
Many of us stop praying when we feel like God is not answering our prayers. But today, I want to bring to your attention a story you know from the Bible; the parable of the friend at midnight. The friend kept knocking until the owner of the house opened the door and served her needs. We too need to be persistent in prayer regardless of how long God takes to respond. Don’t be the type of Christian who easily gives up on God. Our prayer life must be consistent and persistent in every season.
Repent
Isaiah 59:1-2 (NIV) – “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that he will not hear.”
The Bible states that our sins can make God go silent on us. Our wrongdoings can make the heavens unresponsive. Think of it this way; when you do something bad to your friend, they can choose to ignore you, stop visiting, avoid your calls, or fail to reply to your messages. However, when you humble yourself and seek their forgiveness, everything else changes. Likewise, God gets angry with us when we sin; He may ignore our voices when we call out on Him. But when we go before Him with repentant hearts, He renews our relationship with Him. Therefore, anytime you feel like God is not answering your prayers, repent of any sins you may have committed.
Be Patient
God’s silence may come as a test of your patience in Him. Can you persevere during hard times? Are you patient with God even when He is silent? When you remain patient during the period of God’s silence, He will reveal His glory in your life.
Romans 12:12 (NIV) – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
You need to persevere through every circumstance that comes your way. Remember, good things come to those who are patient; and to those who do not give up.
