“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?”
Psalm 13:1-2 (NIV)
Have you ever felt like God has gone silent? Like your prayers are hitting a ceiling, and the heavens are brass? You’re not alone. Even the psalmist David, a man after God’s own heart, experienced times when God seemed distant and quiet. In these moments, it’s easy to feel forgotten, abandoned, or even forsaken. But the story of Jericho in Joshua 6 offers us a powerful perspective on God’s silence and how we can navigate through it.
When the Israelites stood before the imposing walls of Jericho, they might have expected God to give them an immediate, dramatic strategy. Instead, God’s instruction was unexpected: march silently around the city for six days. Can you imagine the confusion, the doubt, perhaps even the frustration that must have crept in as day after day passed with no visible change? God’s silence during those six days of marching might have felt excruciating.
“God’s silence is not His absence, His waiting is not His indifference.” – Martin Luther (German professor of theology, priest, and seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation)
This quote beautifully captures the truth about God’s seeming silence. Just because we don’t hear or see God working doesn’t mean He’s absent or indifferent. Often, His silence is part of His working, preparing us and our circumstances for His perfect timing.
In times when God seems silent, it’s crucial to remember several truths. First, God’s silence doesn’t mean His absence. He promises never to leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Second, His silence may be an invitation to trust Him more deeply. Just as the Israelites had to trust God’s plan as they silently marched, we too are called to walk by faith, not by sight. Third, God’s silence often precedes His most dramatic works. The silence before Jericho’s walls fell was the prelude to an astounding miracle.
When we experience God’s silence, it’s an opportunity to dig deeper into our faith. We can use this time to meditate on His Word, reflecting on His past faithfulness in our lives and in Scripture. We can continue in prayer, pouring out our hearts like David did in the Psalms, honestly expressing our feelings while still affirming our trust in God. We can also seek support from our faith community, sharing our struggles and drawing strength from fellow believers.
It’s important to remember that God’s silence doesn’t negate His love or His promises. Often, it’s in these quiet times that God is doing His deepest work in us, refining our character, strengthening our faith, and preparing us for what’s ahead. Just as the Israelites’ silent marching was preparing them for a miraculous victory, your season of perceived silence may be God’s way of preparing you for a breakthrough.
Godseekers, when God seems silent, don’t lose heart. Like the Israelites circling Jericho or David pouring out his heart in the Psalms, your faithful perseverance in the quiet times is a powerful testimony of trust. God’s silence is not His absence, and His apparent inaction is often the prelude to His most amazing works in your life.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, in times when You seem silent, help us to trust in Your unfailing love and Your constant presence. Remind us that Your silence doesn’t mean Your absence, and Your waiting isn’t indifference. Give us the strength to persevere in faith, even when we can’t see or hear You working. Help us to use these quiet times to draw closer to You, to dig deeper into Your Word, and to trust more fully in Your perfect timing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
Think about a time in your life when God seemed silent. Looking back, can you see ways He was working even in the silence?
In what areas of your life do you currently feel God’s silence? How might you use this time to deepen your faith and trust in Him?
Step of Faith
Today, if you’re experiencing a time of God’s seeming silence, choose to act in faith. Write down three of God’s promises from Scripture that speak to your situation. Meditate on these throughout the day, affirming your trust in God’s faithfulness even when you can’t see or hear Him working. Share your feelings with a trusted friend or mentor in your faith community, asking for their support and prayers during this time.
Listen In
