God never turns away his people, therefore you should never let yourself feel rejected. Keep in mind that no matter what the equation is, God is constant. Feelings do not necessarily correspond to the actuality of God, therefore just because you feel forgotten does not imply God is not present. Among the biblical figures who had periods of quiet, Job was one who ultimately triumphed because God was beside him every step of the journey.
God is always compassionate and never punishes those who are his. Even more so for believers, he never enjoys seeing them suffer. Neither can God be tempted by evil, nor can he tempt evil with himself. The goodness of it is from God. You will find more encouragement in God’s word the more you concentrate on it during quiet seasons. A lack of sound does not indicate that God is not present, nor does it indicate that one is being rejected or left alone. It says nothing about God’s relationship with you that people forget you.
🌱 What To Do While You Wait on God’s Voice
The season of silence can feel long and uncertain. But it is not a passive season; it is an active time of preparation and deepening trust. Here is your guide for what to do while you wait.
📖 Immerse Yourself in His Written Word
While you are waiting to hear from God, spend time meditating on His word. The word of God should be the voice you keep hearing on a daily basis while you await the direct voice of God.
When God seems silent in the heavens, turn to the voice He has already given you on the page. The prophet Habakkuk models this for us. He cried out:
“How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Habakkuk 1:2, NIV)
Yet, he stayed in posture of waiting on God’s reply, which eventually came. Romans 15:4 (NIV) confirms the power of this practice, verbatim:
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope.”
The more you meditate on God’s word during silent seasons, the more you find encouragement.
💝 Cling to the Promise of His Unchanging Love
If you’re feeling any form of rejection, always know that God never rejects his people.
Your feelings are valid, but they are not ultimate truth. When you feel forgotten, speak this truth over yourself. The verbatim promise in Isaiah 49:15-16 (NIV) is your anchor:
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”
The fact that people forget you is not a reflection of God’s relationship with you.
🧠 Anchor Yourself in His Constant Character
You must remember that God is constant in every equation. Just because you feel forgotten does not mean God is not present because your feeling does not always equate the reality of God.
God never persecutes his own, He is always loving. He never takes pleasure in the pain of a sinner, how much more a believer.
This is a foundational truth. James 1:13 (NIV) states it clearly, verbatim:
“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”
If it is good, it is from God. The challenges we face are permitted within His sovereign will, but His heart toward us is always one of redemptive love.
💪 Find Strength in the Stories of Overcoming
Job was one of the characters in the Bible that went through a moment of silence but God was always there and he overcame.
Job’s story is the ultimate case study in waiting through silence. After immense suffering and theological debate, God finally speaks. And though He doesn’t answer the “why,” He reveals the “Who.” Job’s response is one of humble trust:
“My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” (Job 42:5, NIV)
The silence was not the end of the story. God’s presence through the silence forged a deeper, more authentic relationship.
🛡️ Let this be your declaration in the quiet:
Truth
Scripture Anchor
Silence does not mean the absence of God.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Silence does not mean rejection.
Isaiah 49:15-16
Silence does not mean abandonment.
Hebrews 13:5
My feelings are not the measure of God’s reality.
2 Corinthians 5:7
This season is preparing me for a greater revelation.
James 1:2-4
Hold on, beloved. The Teacher is silent during the test, not because He has left the room, but because He has already given you everything you need in His Word to pass it. Your faith is being refined, and your story of waiting will become a powerful testimony of His faithfulness.
Have you ever poured your heart out in prayer, only to be met with what feels like deafening silence? It’s a tough spot to be in, especially when life throws curveballs and you crave that divine reassurance.
I recently came across a powerful graphic shared by Pastor Craig Groeschel, and it stopped me in my tracks. It laid out a simple yet profound reminder:
“Just because God is silent, doesn’t mean He is absent. Just because you may not hear Him, doesn’t mean that He doesn’t hear you. Just because you don’t feel Him, doesn’t mean He is not with you.”
It’s like a gentle nudge that our feelings aren’t the full story when it comes to God’s involvement in our lives. Let’s unpack this truth.
👣 1. Silence is Not Absence: He is Working Behind the Scenes
“Just because God is silent, doesn’t mean He is absent.”
Think about those moments in the Bible where God appeared to go quiet. Take Job, for instance—he endured unimaginable suffering and cried out for answers, but God didn’t respond right away. Yet, in the end, God revealed Himself, showing He’d been there all along.
This truth is anchored in Scripture. Isaiah 64:4 (NIV) says, verbatim:
“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.”
Silence doesn’t equal abandonment; sometimes, it’s God working behind the scenes, building our faith or preparing something bigger.
👂 2. Unheard Doesn’t Mean Unhearing: Your Prayers are Heard
“Just because you may not hear Him, doesn’t mean that He doesn’t hear you.”
Your prayers are never lost in the void. God hears every whisper of your heart. The verbatim promise in 1 John 5:14 (NIV) assures us:
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
Even when the answer isn’t immediate or audible, you can have confidence that your prayers have reached the throne of heaven.
💖 3. Feelings are Fickle, But His Presence is a Promise
“Just because you don’t feel Him, doesn’t mean He is not with you.”
Feelings are fickle. One day we’re on a spiritual high, sensing God’s presence everywhere, and the next, it’s like He’s vanished. But Scripture reminds us that God’s presence isn’t dependent on our emotions.
Matthew 28:20 (NIV) gives us Jesus’s unbreakable vow, verbatim:
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Remember the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus? They walked with the resurrected Jesus but didn’t recognize Him at first (Luke 24:13-35). He was right there, even when they felt alone in their grief. Our senses might deceive us, but His promise stands firm.
💡 Why the Silence? Possible Reasons for the Quiet
Building on these ideas, it’s worth reflecting on why God might choose silence at times.
To Deepen Our Seeking: Silence can draw us closer, encouraging us to seek Him more earnestly (Jeremiah 29:13).
To Refine Our Faith: It teaches us to trust His character over our changing circumstances (1 Peter 1:6-7).
To Prepare a Greater Work: Like a seed dormant in winter, God may be preparing a season of incredible growth just beneath the surface.
In my own journey, I’ve learned that these quiet seasons often lead to deeper growth.
🕯️ A Light in the Quiet: What to Do When God is Silent
If you’re in a season where God feels distant, hold on to these truths.
Lean into Prayer: Keep talking to Him, even if it feels one-sided.
Dive into His Word: His written promises are your anchor.
Remember His Past Faithfulness: Recall times He has come through for you before.
Surround Yourself with Community: Let others hold up your arms when you are weary (Exodus 17:12).
More Quotes on being Silent before God
“When we discover the secret of being inwardly at worship while outwardly at work, we find that the soul’s silence brings us to God and God to us. Silence takes us beyond the limits of consciousness and into the heart and mind and will of God.” ― Brent Bill, Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality
“Silence is one of the deepest disciplines of the Spirit simply because it puts the stopper on all self-justification. One of the fruits of silence is the freedom to let God be our justifier. We don’t need to straighten others out.” ― Richard J. Foster, Seeking the Kingdom: Devotions for the Daily Journey of Faith
“Silence will illuminate you in God… and deliver you from phantoms of ignorance. Silence will unite you to God…. In the beginning we have to force ourselves to be silent. But then from our very silence is born something that draws us into deeper silence. May God give you an experience of this ‘something’ that is born of silence” ― Isaac of Nenevah
“If you love truth, be a lover of silence. Silence, like the sunlight will illuminate you in God.” ― St Issac, 7th Century Hermit Monk
“I believe that God is in me as the sun is in the colour and fragrance of a flower – the Light in my darkness, the Voice in my silence.” ― Helen Keller
“The doorway into the silent land is a wound. Silence lays bare this wound. We do not journey far along the spiritual path before we get some sense of the wound of the human condition, and this is precisely why not a few abandon a contemplative practice like meditation as soon as it begins to expose this wound; they move on instead to some spiritual entertainment that will maintain distraction. Perhaps this is why the weak and wounded, who know very well the vulnerability of the human condition, often have an aptitude for discovering silence and can sense the wholeness and healing that ground this wound.
There is something seductive about the contemplative path. “I am going to seduce her and lead her into the desert and speak to her heart” (Hosea 2:14), says Yahweh to Israel. It is tempting to think it is a superior path. More often, however, the seduction is to think we can use our practice of contemplation as a way to avoid facing our woundedness: if we can just go deeply enough into contemplation, we won’t struggle any longer. It is common enough to find people taking a cosmetic view of contemplation, and then, after considerable time and dedication to contemplative practice, discover that they still have the same old warts and struggles they hoped contemplation would remove or hide. They think that somewhere they must have gone wrong.
Certainly there is deep conversion, healing, and unspeakable wholeness to be discovered along the contemplative path. The paradox, however, is that this healing is revealed when we discover that our wound and the wound of God are one wound.” ― Martin Laird, Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation
“The simplest spiritual discipline is some degree of solitude and silence. But it’s the hardest, because none of us want to be with someone we don’t love. Besides that, we invariably feel bored with ourselves, and all of our loneliness comes to the surface.
We won’t have the courage to go into that terrifying place without Love to protect us and lead us, without the light and love of God overriding our own self-doubt. Such silence is the most spacious and empowering technique in the world, yet it’s not a technique at all. It’s precisely the refusal of all technique.” ― Richard Rohr, Radical Grace: Daily Meditations by Richard Rohr
“Space is as important as content, and silence as important as singing. Our music and art should be filled with more beauty, more grace, and definitely more space. In the layer beneath the text God speaks to us; in the silence we hear God’s heartbeat;” ― Martin Smith, Delirious: My Journey with the Band, a Growing Family, and an Army of Historymakers
“There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. . . . Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God’s Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord. . . .” ― Charles H. Spurgeon
“For you, My children, I will unlock the secret treasures hidden from so many. Not one of your cries is unheard. I am, indeed, with you to help you. Live out all I have said to you, and follow every detail as I have instructed you. As you implicitly obey all that I say, success — spiritual, mental, and physical — shall be yours. Wait in silence awhile, conscious of My presence in which you must live to have rest for your souls, and power and joy and peace.” ― Lacie Stevens, God Calling: A Timeless Classic Updated in Today’s Language
“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls. ” ― Mother Teresa
“In the silence of the heart God speaks. If you face God in prayer and silence, God will speak to you. Then you will know that you are nothing. It is only when you realize your nothingness, your emptiness, that God can fill you with Himself. Souls of prayer are souls of great silence.” ― Mother Teresa, In the Heart of the World: Thoughts, Stories and Prayers
“We too are called to withdraw at certain intervals into deeper silence and aloneness with God, together as a community as well as personally; to be alone with Him — not with our books, thoughts, and memories but completely stripped of everything — to dwell lovingly in His presence, silent, empty, expectant, and motionless. We cannot find God in noise or agitation.” ― Mother Teresa, In the Heart of the World: Thoughts, Stories and Prayers
“But there is that certain something about wanting to do the will of God. If one is sincere and if one really wants to know what His will is, all one has to do is be quiet. Shut off the television and radio, and in that silence one will always hear that still small voice in one’s heart telling him what to do.” ― Maria von Trapp, Maria
“The Lord prepared Moses for his ministry and took eighty years to do it. He was raised as a prince in Egypt and taught all that the wise men in Egypt knew. Some scholars believe that Moses was in line to be the next Pharaoh. Yet Moses gave all this up to identify with the people of God in their suffering (Heb. 11:24–27). God gave Moses a forty-year “post-graduate course” as a shepherd in the land of Midian, a strange place for a man with all the learning of Egypt in his mind. But there were lessons to be learned in solitude and silence, and in taking care of ignorant sheep, that Moses could never have learned in the university in Egypt. God has different ways of training His servants, and each person’s training is tailor-made by the Lord.” ― Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Equipped (Deuteronomy): Acquiring the Tools for Spiritual Success
“Be much in secret prayer. Converse less with man, and more with God.” – George Whitefield
In the prayer life of a believer, there may come troubling moments when it feels as though God is not responding. This week’s discussion explores the potential causes behind such apparent silence. I encourage you to approach this with an open and prayerful mindset as you follow along. To guide our exploration, we’ll draw from three key passages in the Bible.
The first is Psalm 28:1, which states, “To you I call, O Lord my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who descend to the grave.” Similarly, Psalm 83:1 echoes this plea: “O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not remain quiet, O God.” Then, Psalm 50:16-22 addresses the ungodly: “But to the wicked person, God says: What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son. These things you have done, and I remained silent; you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you. Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you.”
🤫 When Heaven is Silent: Examining the Silence of God
Dear friends, throughout my life, I’ve listened to numerous sermons, yet few have touched me as deeply as one from more than two decades ago called “God’s Sorrow and Disappointment with His Creation.” The minister based it on Genesis 6:5: “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” The core of that sermon was God’s choice to eradicate humanity from the planet due to their persistent disregard for His guidance.
Essentially, when God’s teachings fail to transform someone, and they cling rigidly to their own views and behaviors, the outcome is invariably ruin. God’s message didn’t alter Adam and Eve, leading to the ongoing struggles of all humankind. It didn’t reform Cain, who went on to commit the first murder. Even Lot’s daughters, despite encountering angels, remained unchanged by divine words. Likewise, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram ignored God’s instructions and were engulfed alive by the earth, becoming the first to enter hell without passing through death. Scripture records God’s grief in various instances, particularly when His words leave people unmoved. In some cases, however, God might opt for complete silence. Let’s delve into some reasons why He might choose this approach.
One possibility is that God is displeased with you and has withdrawn from you. God selected Saul, crowned him king over His people, and aided him in victories, but Saul’s defiance led God to cut off all communication—through prophets, visions, or dreams. Saul ultimately perished alongside his three sons in a single day. In another case, while Eli and Samuel shared the same space, God spoke only to Samuel because Eli’s actions had angered Him. If you’re no longer sensing God’s voice, it could mean you’ve engaged in behaviors that displease Him, prompting His departure. In such moments, offer this prayer: “Any wrongdoing that deafens my ears or drives God from me, leave my life immediately, in Jesus’ name.”
😔 The Heart of the Matter: When Words Fail to Change Us
Another reason could be that God is indeed communicating, but you’re unable to perceive it. His messages are being sent, yet your spiritual receptivity is out of sync with His. Though God speaks, if something in your life hinders your ability to hear, it mimics silence—even as He continues. Many followers excel at speaking in prayer but lack skill in attentive listening. Christians often master vocal expression while neglecting receptiveness. In today’s noisy world, achieving true quietude is challenging, which is why some seek retreats to escape distractions and foster an environment conducive to hearing God. As 1 Samuel 3:1 notes, “The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.”
There could be worrying occasions in a believer’s prayer life when it appears that God is silent. Our message this week focuses on the possible reasons this may be so. I therefore would like you to open your hearts as you prayerfully read along.
📖 Our Working Tool: Three Scriptural Appeals
The cry against God’s silence is a recurring theme in the Psalms. The writers understood the danger of a divine silence.
Psalm 28:1 (KJV)
“Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.”
Psalm 83:1 (KJV)
“Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.”
These psalms represent a heartfelt plea for God to speak, to act, to make His presence known. But there is another side to His silence, as seen in Psalm 50.
Psalm 50:16-22 (KJV)
“But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee… These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.”
This passage reveals a silence of forbearance that can be mistaken for approval. God’s silence is not always a passive absence; sometimes, it is a active period of gathering evidence before a righteous judgment.
Beloved, I have heard many sermons in my life, but very few were as moving as the one I heard over 20 years ago titled, “God’s lamentation and failure over His creatures.” The preacher took his text from Genesis 6:5-6 (KJV):
“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.”
The summary of that particular message was God’s decision to wipe off man from the surface of the earth as a result of man’s refusal to hearken to His voice. So once the words of God does not change a person and the person stubbornly sticks to his opinions and ways, the end is always destruction.
This pattern is seen throughout Scripture:
The word of God did not change Adam and Eve.
The word of God did not change Cain.
The word of God did not change Lot’s daughters though they received angelic visitation.
Korah, Dathan and Abiram also refused to be changed and were swallowed alive.
God laments when His words do not change men. However, God may even choose not to speak at all.
🔍 Two Primary Reasons for God’s Silence
1. 🚫 When He Has Withdrawn Due to Disobedience
It was God that chose Saul, installed him as king, and helped him win his battles. But he disobeyed God, and God refused to have any further dialogue with him.
The verbatim account in 1 Samuel 28:6 (NIV) confirms this tragic state:
“He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.”
Eli and Samuel were sleeping in the same environment, but God chose to speak to Samuel because Eli’s activities had evoked His displeasure. So when you are not hearing again from the Lord, you probably have started doing some things which have evoked His displeasure.
📌 Prayer Point:
“Any sin blocking my ears, any sin scaring God away from me, depart from my life now, in the name of Jesus.”
2. 📻 When He is Speaking, But We Cannot Tune In
He is talking, but somewhere along the line, your own frequency is different from His own. If God is speaking to you and, for some reasons, something is in your life blocking you from hearing Him, it is as if He is silent—but He is speaking. You just cannot pick it up.
Most believers are very good at talking, but their ability to listen is under-developed. In the present world, there is so much noise, and to be truly silent is very hard. This is the reason some people go for retreats.
This condition is described in 1 Samuel 3:1 (KJV):
“And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.”
The problem wasn’t that God had stopped speaking forever; it was that the spiritual atmosphere was clouded. It took a young, attentive heart like Samuel’s to hear the voice that was still speaking.
💡 How to Respond
Examine Your Heart: Honestly ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any unconfessed sin or pattern of disobedience (Psalm 139:23-24).
Cultivate a Listening Posture: Create quiet spaces in your day. Reduce the noise. As Charles Spurgeon advised, verbatim: > “Be silent that you may hear the whispers of God.”
Persist in Prayer: Continue to cry out like the Psalmist, trusting that He hears even when He seems silent.
33When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” 36And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”
It is a fact that there are instances when God can remain mute with regard to the revelation of his will for the course of your life and destiny. I am providing you with this instruction because there are a significant number of individuals who find themselves in the season of the quiet of God. There is a period of time known as the season of the quiet of God. During this time, you pray, you fast, you do everything you can, but it seems as though you are not receiving any messages from God.
It is important to understand that whenever God is silent, it indicates that He is working on you. In other words, God’s silence and the withholding of His will for you at any time means that you are a vessel that He will use to carry out His will. He needs to do some work in your life, and if He were to reveal His will to you in your current state, it would be a waste of time. Therefore, His silence is a signal that you should continue to train until He is able to transform you into a vessel that is capable of carrying out His will. For a period of thirty years, God remained silent on the subject of Jesus.
There is not a single passage in the Bible that mentions Jesus communicating with God when he was a child. From the moment that God made an announcement about Jesus’ birth until the present day, God has not said anything to him. Instead, Jesus has made the most of that time by praying, studying, and undergoing a series of training sessions, all because of his father’s will. Luke 2:52 states that during those quiet moments, Jesus grew in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with both God and man.
Rather than bemoaning God’s silence in a manner that is irritable, make the most of your silent moment—when God is not speaking—by concentrating on him and allowing him to build you up. The majority of people are more concerned with God revealing his will to them than they are with the fact that God created them. There is a version that will fulfill God’s desire whenever he reveals it; if you have not yet transformed into that version, he will cease speaking and instead concentrate on training you.
The majority of you have not grasped the magnitude of God’s power. Have you ever read the passage in the Bible that says that all things work together, not for everyone, but for those who love the Lord? Therefore, whenever you are feeling like you no longer understand your own life, just ask yourself, “Do I love God?” If the answer to that question is still yes, then you can rest assured that everything is working together for your benefit. It is important to remember that whenever God does not speak, it is actually because he is in the process of working on his vessel. May God provide you blessings!
3 things the silence of God means
The silence of God can be deeply unsettling. We pray, we cry out, and we are met with what feels like an echo. But what if this silence is not a sign of His absence, but a part of His divine strategy?
The key is: Do not mistake God’s silence for God’s inactivity.
⏳ Strategy 1: Silence and Sovereign Timing
God’s silence is a strategy. Every time they say, “No one rises in this family, let’s go back and serve idols,” and He seems to keep quiet, and you say, “God Ah!!!, Move now!!!”
That’s not how He works.
He keeps quiet because, in His realm, time does not matter. In one day, He can do anything. Your entire lifetime is less than a day. So, when you say, “God, hurry up!” He says: “I don’t understand that language. Hurry means what???”
Eternity minus five years does not mean anything to Him.
This truth is echoed in the verbatim words of 2 Peter 3:8 (NIV):
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”
Our panic is based on a human clock. God’s plan operates on a celestial calendar. His silence is often a period of divine preparation, both in the spiritual realm and in our own hearts.
🔨 Strategy 2: Silence as a Tool for Refinement
God’s silence is not just about His timing; it’s also about our transformation. During these quiet periods, God is often doing a deep work in us.
“God’s silence can be a time of testing and growth. It can feel like abandonment, but it is often a tool God uses to draw us into deeper dependence on Him, to refine our faith, and to teach us to trust His character rather than our feelings.” (Source: What does it mean that God is silent? – GotQuestions.org)
In the silence, we learn to move from a faith based on audible answers to a faith rooted in the unchanging character of God.
📖 Biblical Case Studies: Silence Before the Storm
The Bible is filled with examples where God’s silence preceded His most powerful interventions.
Figure
Situation
Outcome of the Silence
Job
Suffered immensely with no answer from God (Job 30:20).
God eventually spoke from the whirlwind, revealing His majesty and power, and restored Job’s fortunes.
The Israelites in Egypt
400 years of slavery, crying out to a seemingly silent God.
The silence broke with the Exodus, one of the most dramatic salvations in history.
Jesus at the Tomb of Lazarus
Mary and Martha said, “Lord, if you had been here…” Jesus was silent for two days before arriving.
The silence set the stage for the miracle, proving He is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11).
These stories show a consistent pattern: God’s greatest works are often incubated in seasons of silence.
✨ What to Do In the Silence
So, how should we respond when heaven seems silent?
Trust His Character, Not Your Circumstances: Remember His past faithfulness. Recall that He is good, He is loving, and His plans for you are for your welfare (Jeremiah 29:11).
Continue in Obedience: Keep praying, keep serving, keep reading His Word. As Charles Spurgeon said, verbatim: > “When you cannot see God’s hand, trust His heart.”
Wait with Expectancy: Don’t wait passively; wait expectantly, like a watchman waiting for the morning (Psalm 130:5-6). Believe that His response, when it comes, will be right on time.
🕊️ Conclusion
God’s silence is not a void; it is a space. It is the space between the question and the answer, between the planting and the harvest, between the promise and its fulfillment. It is in this sacred space that our faith is stretched and our character is forged.
Do not fear the silence. God is not absent; He is orchestrating. Your “hurry” is not in His vocabulary, because His timing is perfect.
The silence of God can be one of the most difficult experiences in the life of a believer. It can feel like abandonment, but Scripture shows us that His silence is not absence. It can be a season of discipline, a prelude to action, or a deep expression of His love.
When we pray to God, particularly when we are experiencing a time of great need, and we are greeted with silence, what are we supposed to do? Do we draw the conclusion that God did not hear us? Do we believe that He is not present or, even worse, that He does not care?
The author of Psalm 42 was aware of the experience of calling out to God and only receiving silence in response. Nevertheless, the writer continued to trust in God and worship Him, despite the fact that God had not responded to him with any words or actions of His own.
“O my soul, why do you feel so dejected, and why do you torment me from within?” I will once again sing praises to God, who is my salvation and my God, thus I place my hope in him. (Psalm 42:11).
Here are 12 verses that explore the theme of God’s silence, categorized to help us understand His purposes.
🤫 12 Bible Verses about God Being Silent
📜 Category 1: The Silence of Reprove
God is silent to allow our actions to speak for themselves, often as a prelude to correction.
Psalm 50:21
“These things you have done and I kept silence; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.”
💡 Insight: This silence is merciful. God is patient, not endorsing our sin. His eventual speech is meant for our correction and restoration.
Isaiah 57:11
“Of whom were you worried and fearful When you lied, and did not remember Me Nor give Me a thought? Was I not silent even for a long time So you do not fear Me?”
💡 Insight: God’s prolonged silence can be misinterpreted as indifference. This verse warns against taking His patience for granted.
😥 Category 2: The Cry Against Silence
The heartfelt prayers of believers who feel God’s silence in their suffering.
Psalm 28:1
A Psalm of David. To You, O Lord, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me, For if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit.
🙏 Prayer Focus: David’s raw plea shows that expressing our desperation to God is an act of faith. We can be honest with Him about our feeling of His silence.
Psalm 83:1
A Song, a Psalm of Asaph. O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still.
Psalm 109:1
For the choir director. A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, Do not be silent!
🙏 Prayer Focus: These verses give us words when we feel surrounded by injustice or enemies. It is right to cry out for God to act.
Isaiah 64:12
Will You restrain Yourself at these things, O Lord? Will You keep silent and afflict us beyond measure?
🙏 Prayer Focus: A cry from a people in exile, questioning how long God will allow their suffering to continue.
Habakkuk 1:13
Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor. Why do You look with favor On those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up Those more righteous than they?
🙏 Prayer Focus: Habakkuk’s question is the cry of every generation witnessing injustice. It’s a theological struggle with God’s apparent silence in the face of evil.
⏳ Category 3: The Silence of Sovereign Timing
God’s silence is a deliberate pause before a mighty act.
Isaiah 42:14
“I have kept silent for a long time, I have kept still and restrained Myself. Now like a woman in labor I will groan, I will both gasp and pant.”
✨ Promise: This is a crucial verse! God’s silence is not inactivity. It is a period of gathering strength and preparation for a powerful deliverance. The silence will break.
Job 34:29
When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn? And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him, That is, in regard to both nation and man?—
✨ Promise: This reminds us of God’s ultimate sovereignty. Even His silence is under His control and serves His purposes, which are beyond our full understanding.
💖 Category 4: The Silence of Love and Awe
Not all silence is negative; some is profoundly comforting or reverent.
Zephaniah 3:17
“The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”
💖 Comfort: This is one of the most beautiful images in the Bible. Sometimes God’s silence is not anger or absence, but a quiet, deep, adoring love—like a parent gazing silently at a sleeping child.
Hebrews 12:19
and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them.
🙏 Reverence: This refers to the fear at Mount Sinai. It teaches us that sometimes God’s silence is a mercy because the full weight of His audible voice is too awesome to bear.
🔊 Category 5: Our Response: Refusing to Be Silent
While God may be silent, our call is to continue to praise and proclaim.
Isaiah 62:1
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet, Until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, And her salvation like a torch that is burning.
✊ Charge: This is our model. Even when we don’t hear God, we are called to be active in prayer, intercession, and proclaiming His promises until we see His salvation.
📚 Relevant Materials & Citations
To dive deeper into this challenging topic, these resources are helpful:
Article:“What does it mean that God is silent?” by GotQuestions.org. This article provides a clear, theological overview. A key quote, verbatim, is: “God is sometimes silent because His plan is different from our plan… His silence does not indicate a lack of love or concern. It indicates He has a different plan that does not require our input at the moment.”
Book:When God Is Silentby Dr. Charles Stanley. This book offers pastoral guidance on how to trust God and find peace during seasons when He seems distant.
🕯️ Conclusion
The silence of God is a complex reality in the walk of faith. It can be a time of testing, a season of preparation, or even an expression of His deep love. The key is to follow the example of the psalmists and prophets: to continue crying out in honest prayer, to remember His past faithfulness, and to trust that the God who spoke creation into existence has not lost His voice. He is working even in the quiet.
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.”
Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever… They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor.
🤔 What is Success, Really?
The general definition of success is the achievement of goals or desires in any given area.
But Kingdom Success is richer and deeper. It has to do with:
The quality of your relationship with God.
The quality of life and living derived from that relationship.
The discovery and completion of your assignment on earth.
The extent of impact you make to your world.
✅ Does the Bible Actually Support Success?
Let’s look at the evidence: Jeremiah 29:11, Genesis 1:28, 12:1-3, 39:21-23, Leviticus 26:3-5, Deuteronomy 11:11-14, 28:13, 30:15-16, Joshua 1:5-8, Psalm 92:12-14, 126:5-6, Matthew 25:20-21, John 4:34, Galatians 6:9, 1 Peter 5:10.
Conclusions from these scriptures:
God is glorified when believers succeed. It validates His love, His fatherhood, and the integrity of His word in their life.
Success is a strong consolation to believers as they walk with God. It builds their faith, brings dignity and honour to their lives, makes their witness effective (John 4:29) and establishes joy and peace in your heart.
The success and victory of believers is a potent way of drawing many to Jesus.
😕 Why Does “Success” Create Mixed Feelings Among Believers?
This tension is real and stems from several issues:
📈 Material Overemphasis: The subject has been taught only from the standpoint of material acquisitions, ignoring nobler parameters like spiritual health, fulfillment, and peace.
🎯 Mission Drift: It has been overemphasized to the point of overriding the core mission of the church: soul winning and the revelation of Jesus.
📏 Erroneous Yardstick: It has been wrongly used as a major measure of faith in God (Mark 10:17-22).
🤥 Fruits of Compromise: The success of some is discovered to be from ungodly practices, putting pressure on others to compromise.
💔 Fleshly Gratification: Many have used success to gratify the flesh and create unhealthy social divisions in the church.
💚 Envy and Jealousy: True success requires knowledge, discipline, and diligence. Those unwilling to pay the price may gravitate towards envy (Romans 10:12).
🔍 A Painful Mirror: A believer’s success validates God’s word, kills the excuses of those who fail, and compels them to face their own responsibility.
📐 The Biblical Parameters of True Success
This is the core of the matter. True Kingdom success isn’t one-dimensional. It’s measured by a beautiful mosaic of factors:
Icon
Parameter
Description & Scripture
🧠
a. Character
The outworking of the nature of Christ in a person (Galatians 5:22). It’s the product of a healthy, vibrant relationship with God.
💡
b. A Superior Belief System
Acknowledging Christ’s lordship, believing in human dignity, responsibility, the finished work of Christ, and the power of God’s laws and love.
🎯
c. Discovery of Purpose
Excelling in your God-ordained assignment (Jeremiah 1:5, Hebrews 10:7). As the theologian Dr. Myles Munroe famously said, verbatim: > “The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life without a purpose.”
🔑
d. Understanding Mysteries
The ability to understand and apply Kingdom principles for a victorious life (Matthew 13:11, Job 38:33).
🌍
e. Kingdom Impact & Exploits
The real proof of stamina is winning souls and transforming lives (1 Timothy 2:4). This is the greatest demonstration of the gospel’s power.
✨
f. Influence
The capacity to command attention and loyalty, compelling others to buy into godly convictions.
❤️
g. Healthy Relationships
The health of your relationships with family and those close to you.
✝️
h. Willingness to Sacrifice
Your readiness to lose everything, including your life, for the sake of Jesus and His Kingdom values.
🌳
i. Legacy
Your ability to look beyond yourself and create something that blesses future generations. This echoes the words of pastor and author Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Life, verbatim: > “Living a purpose-driven life is the only way to really live. Everything else is just existing.”
😌
j. Unshakable Peace
The ability to have joy, peace, and rest with or without material blessings.
📚 Relevant Materials & Citations
To dive deeper into this topic, consider these resources:
Book:The Purpose Driven Lifeby Rick Warren. This book is a foundational text on finding your purpose from a biblical perspective.
Book:Understanding Your Potentialby Dr. Myles Munroe. This book expands on the themes of discovering and maximizing your God-given purpose.
Article:“What is Biblical Success?” by GotQuestions.org. This article provides a concise, scriptural answer. A relevant quote, verbatim, is: > “Biblical success is finding out what God wants you to do and doing it.”
🏁 Conclusion
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NIV) brings it all home:
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.”
True Kingdom success is not about the abundance of your possessions, but the depth of your obedience and the authenticity of your walk with God. It’s a holistic success that blesses you, validates God’s word, impacts your world, and leaves a legacy for eternity.
