Do not disregard the silence—a number of the most significant actions that God has taken in my life have occurred following a time of spiritual dryness, during which it appeared that God was not working in my life at all. Maintain a close relationship with God and be patient for the day when He will ultimately reveal the extent of His might. When the moment is right, he will do it.
Confront the sin that you are already aware of in your life – For Elijah, the issue was not one of silence; rather, the Israelites were experiencing difficulties because they were pursuing other gods and conducting their lives in complete defiance of God’s will. It is possible that sin is not the reason you are not feeling close to God at the moment, but if you are aware of any sins that you have committed in your life, they will have an impact on the intimacy you share with God.
Return to the things that you are familiar with—reacquaint yourself with the fundamental aspects of the religion that was your salvation. Throughout your life, you will do it hundreds of times, but you must constantly remind yourselves of the foundation of faith, which is the actual character and promises of God. God possesses ultimate authority. He truly is… even in those instances when He appears to be completely inaccessible and impossible to locate.
Come to a conclusion… You are unable to devote yourself to both God and the world at the same time, therefore you must pick a side. (Take Joshua 24:15 into consideration.) In life, there are times when something occurs, and it is frequently a sin, a period of intense activity, boredom, or a catastrophe. but if we are normal, we go through periods of time during which we distance ourselves from our close contact with God. If you have deviated from the path of righteousness by becoming less obedient, you should make every effort to return to the correct side of things.
Place your trust in others more, not less. Although it is possible that periods of stillness are filled with dread, it is ironic that these are the times that require the greatest amount of faith. In our spiritual lives, there are times when our enthusiasm is not as genuine as it was when we first started on our journey with God. That does not always mean that you should stop… It is possible that God is utilizing that period of time to do something far more significant than you could have ever anticipated… but whatever is coming next will most certainly necessitate a more profound level of trust than what is already in place.
Be attentive and pay close attention to what you hear and see because one day, God will reveal to you what He has in store for you. Make sure that you don’t let them pass you by. He might reach out to you personally in a variety of ways, including through His Word, circumstances, or another individual. It will be necessary for you to be in a position where you are aware of the fact that God is making moves.
Be prepared to receive; there will come a day when God will put an end to the stillness, and when that day comes, it will be a good thing. If you spend your time wallowing in your own misery, you will be less equipped to welcome the positive things that are on their way to you. As you wait for God to bless you after the period of silence, you should dress yourself in gladness. This is not because of your circumstances, but because of your faith.
God is silent during the test
When we are weak and uncertain, being in God’s presence can show us how we handle situations when we don’t have His strength. While God’s sway and might may momentarily wane in times of trial, He is still with us through it all. The old adage goes something like, “the teacher is always silent during the test.” Even when we don’t sense God’s presence, this text reminds us to pray, read the Bible, and obey his laws.
Prayer leads us to God, as Jeanne Guyon’s story shows us, and when we find God, we sing His praises with gladness. But there will be challenges and obstacles along the way. As the heroic servant of God Elijah’s tale shows, we, too, will have moments of weakness and spiritual distance from God. In spite of this, God watches over us and guides us to remain faithful to our Master.
God watched over Elijah as he fled from the many false prophets, and God was with him the whole way. We made it through the raging inferno unscathed, and our teacher is overjoyed when the test is over. God met all of his needs, provided for him, fed him, and allowed him to relax. He spoke to Elijah in a low, calm voice while they were on the mountain.
There will be times when we feel spiritually parched, disconnected from God, and unable to pray. As long as we keep praying for direction, we can learn to be content with the present moment.
It is crucial to keep in mind that our experiences will fluctuate as we strive to have a deeper understanding of God. No matter how careful we are, there will always be moments when we feel incredibly close to something and other times when we feel incredibly far away. Please do not lose heart over this; acceptance is key.
It is important to keep believing and not get disheartened, as Jeanne Guyon reminds us. As we strive for a closer walk with the Lord, we can expect to face challenges. As you continue on your path toward God, don’t give up; instead, relax and take it easy when you feel His presence.
The message of this verse is that our inner fire fluctuates and increases; when it starts to burn, give up. Give God the grace to make us perseverant, so that we can stay the course even when things are tough. You maintain your determination.
The Bible contains several important sayings, one of which is “rolling with the punches,” which implies to keep going even when things are tough. This idea originated in boxing, where landing a hit to the face unites the head and body, reducing the impact.
To keep going when things are tough, you must guard your heart. We need to let positive emotions like friendship, love, trust, and peace in while blocking negative emotions like criticism, rage, and hate. Because God’s love has been poured into our hearts via the Holy Spirit, we are not ashamed of the perseverance, character, and hope that suffering generates (Romans 5:3-5 ESV).
The emotional core is at the center of most of this. Keep your heart safe, keep it encouraged, and trust that God hears and answers prayers at all times. The most important thing about prayer, according to Jeanne Guyon, is to pray with a believing heart. Belief in God’s existence, goodness, and answerability is essential.
As we continue our journey to know God, it is important to consider the heart’s motives. Many people long for a personal relationship with God, a deeper understanding of who He is, or the joy that comes from spending time in His presence. But there is a greater purpose, as pointed out by Madam Guyon: to create a heart that seeks nothing more than to honor Him and carry out His will. This concept brings to mind the parable that Jesus gave about the servants who were faithful in carrying out their duties and in following their master’s instructions.
Because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we are adopted children of God. As such, we are also servants of God, and our primary goal as such should be to do His will and bring Him glory. On the road to a more intimate relationship with God, we seek to do His will.
When god is silent during difficult times
- Silence due to the inconvenient timing
God is permitted to remain mute because it is not the appropriate time for Him to speak. The Israelites endured the oppression of Pharaoh for an extended period of time, during which God maintained his silence. It is challenging to read about God’s “loud” silence in the first two chapters of Exodus, but it is important to remember that God’s word is linked to time. Genesis 15:13 states that God spoke to Abraham about his descendants being “stranges in a foreign land, and they will be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years” long before it would occur. Therefore, it was merely a matter of time. God was anticipating the appropriate moment to speak and act, which He had previously disclosed, and He ultimately does so in Exodus 3. Occasionally, God remains silent as He awaits the appropriate moment to communicate. It is crucial that we remain patient and cling to the last words He spoke as we anticipate His response. “For the revelation is awaiting an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not be proven false.” Wait for it, even if it persists; it will undoubtedly arrive without delay. Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV) - Silence as a result of the audience’s lack of attention
Occasionally, God remains mute due to our unwillingness to engage in conversation. A period in which “the word of the Lord was rare” is described in 1 Samuel 3:1. This occurs subsequent to God’s communication to Eli regarding His dissatisfaction with Eli’s preference for his sons over Himself. Typically, individuals will respond to God’s words by pleading for absolution and repenting. Eli did not respond in any way, despite the fact that even the malevolent Ahab was aware of this. Subsequently, we are informed of the scarcity of God’s Word: If we are not attentive, God will speak less. In Hosea 5:4-6, we are informed of God’s withdrawal from the conversation when we, in our arrogance, merely desire His attention but are unwilling to acknowledge Him by listening to Him. It is crucial that we examine our hearts for any disobedience or failure to acknowledge God in the words He has spoken to us during God’s silence. “Be cautious of your path when you approach the house of God.” Go nigh to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who are unaware of their incorrect actions. Ecclesiastes 5:1 - Silence due to his decision to remain in the current circumstance
At other times, God remains silent because it is His intention for things to remain unaltered. Paul’s persistent prayers for respite from the thorn in his flesh were met with silence from God (2 Corinthians 12:8). God ultimately responded, but He disclosed that He would not be altering anything, as it was His intention for the situation to remain unaltered. In the same way that Jesus did not receive a response when he cried out on the cross (Mark 15:34), God’s silence may indicate that the situation we are in is God’s sovereign will. In such cases, we must pray for the grace to accept God’s will. “My Father, if it is feasible, may this cup be removed from me.” However, not in accordance with my will, but rather in accordance with yours. Matthew 26:39 There may have been valid reasons for God’s silence at the time; however, He will inevitably speak again, regardless of the duration of His silence. Therefore, my beloved sister, remain steadfast. God’s silence is not indicative of His absence; therefore, persist.
When God seems silent, try these seven steps:
Check your heart. Sometimes God’s silence is due to sin or disobedience. Psalm 66:18 states, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Confess your sins to God and ask for forgiveness. He is loyal and just to forgive and cleanse us (1 John 1:9). Discover the value of confession and repentance.
Listen to God. God may be speaking, yet we may not be listening. God communicates through His Word, Spirit, people, and circumstances. Listen to His voice and follow His guidance. Psalm 46:10 states, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Study God’s Word, concentrate on His promises, and hear His whisper. Learn to hear God here.
Accept God’s rule. God is sovereign and can accomplish what He wants. He owes us no explanation for His actions or silence. God is not required to answer our petitions or reveal His purposes. He is God, not us. We must trust that He knows what He’s doing and cares about us. Job 42:2 states, “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Learn about God’s sovereignty and trusting Him here.
Silence may be intimate. God’s quiet may indicate trust and love, not displeasure. He may be silent to help us trust Him, grow in faith, and enjoy His presence. Silence can convey intimacy and affection. Psalm 62:1 states, “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” How to enjoy God’s presence silently.
Keep praying and thanking. God’s silence doesn’t mean we shouldn’t communicate to or adore Him. Even when we don’t experience His reaction, God wants us to pray and praise Him. Prayer and praise show our faith and love for God. They also help us follow His will and enjoy His peace and joy. Philippians 4:6-7 reads, “Do not worry, but in every situation, pray and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” In Christ Jesus, God’s unfathomable peace will guard your hearts and minds.” Explore the power of prayer and praise here.
Get godly advice. Sometimes God uses others to speak to us or affirm His will. He may counsel, encourage, correct, or affirm us through friends, family, pastors, mentors, or other Christians. We must be modest and open to godly advice and its comparison to the Bible. Proverbs 15:22 states, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Learn how to get godly advice here.
Be patient and hopeful. The stillness of God does not indicate inactivity or indifference. He may prepare us and others for His answer or intervention behind the scenes. He may be waiting for the proper moment, location, or person to disclose His purpose. God is dependable and good, therefore we must wait patiently and hopefully for His action. Psalm 27:14 states, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
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