Understanding God’s Silence

As you know, this past month has been a time of special prayer and waiting on God. In reference to specific things we have been waiting on, He has been silent but we've sensed the Holy Spirit moving. For now, Jim is staying in his position since the Lord has not released him and the intercessors continue to stand with me after bearing witness to God's will for healing to be manifest here.

The group of women God has sent have, like us, carried the heart of God for the church these last years and so we have had good fellowship and learned much from one another. It is interesting we have all had a sense of God's silence. Our reactions have varied from withdrawing from God to hounding Him constantly, demanding to know what's going on and why. I am of the latter camp! In fact, the silence confused me so much that I've sometimes gone backwards in prayer travailing over things God already said were settled. But I am finally coming to a new understanding about the silence of God which I hope will encourage those of you who may be in a similar place.

First of all, it is essential to realize that when a child of God is truly seeking Him, silence is not an indicator of disobedience. I don't know about you, but when my children disobey that is when I am the most vocal. And God has promised when we go to the right or to the left we will hear His voice saying "No, this is the way." Is. 30:21. We can waste a lot of time examining ourselves during a period of silence and the enemy loves to bring us under false guilt and condemnation. So what then is the purpose of silence?

Silence will often come after a long period of teaching, discipline or revelation from God. Think back on your school days. Your teacher constantly taught you, helped you and answered all your questions. But when the course was about to end, there came a test where you had to use what you had learned. During the test, the teacher was silent and would not answer your questions. You were on your own and what you did during that silence determined whether or not you would go on to the next course. Similarly, God also puts us to the test. Are we just after knowledge, or will we apply what we have been taught? The silence will ultimately prove this. It is easy to frantically try to fill times of silence with books, tapes and "how to" seminars. Then what happens spiritually is much like what happens physically when we overeat. Our system can't handle it, so instead of digesting, and becoming well nourished, we either lose it all or become fat with excess that is of no use to us. Therefore it is important to realize that we must take time to absorb, digest and live out what God has already revealed.

But perhaps the most precious aspect of God's silence has to do with deepening our relationship. I remember the early years of my relationship with Jim. To be together meant we had to be constantly talking or else we felt something was wrong. But as our relationship matured, silence became an important part of our communication. Some of our most intimate times were completely devoid of spoken words. The awareness of each other's presence deepened until I found complete satisfaction just being near him, gazing upon his face, feeling his touch. I often knew what he thought about things without him even telling me. But this came after years of building mutual trust. When God is silent, it is easy to misunderstand and become very demanding, or else become offended and walk away. But there is a sweetness, a calmness and confidence that can come to us when He is silent in His love. (Zeph. 3:17). So now I can be quiet before the Lord as a weaned child whose begging is stilled (Psalm 131:2) and be still and know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10)

Finally it is interesting to note in the physical realm how sensitive our ears become during times of silence. We hear things we never noticed before. And so it is that spiritual silence also prepares us to hear God better. I hope this encourages you who may be experiencing a time of silence to draw near to God and learn to love Him and let Him love you in new ways. May you not shrink back or try to fill the silence but absorb all He has been teaching you and live it out before Him in quietness and confidence. We thank you so much for your prayers and support and look forward to sharing the fruit as it comes forth in the days and months to come. May God richly bless you in this coming month.