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Have you ever gone through a challenge and the more you prayed, the quieter God seemed? I have. Those were tough times but I learned some valuable lessons. Here are three of them.
First, when God seemed silent it was an opportunity for me to stand confident that God is trustworthy. That God is faithful. When facing a challenge, the tendency is to be busy about finding a solution. To be busy handling matters on our own. But that is the world’s way. As believers, God wants us to rely and trust in Him. Psalm 62:1 (NKJV) states: Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. So instead of relying on ourselves, we need to lay hold of a heart posture that is confident that God has a plan for us. That God has a way of escape.
Second, when God seemed silent it was an opportunity for me to remind myself that God is not bound by my timing. I admit that, when I pray, I want an answer in a reasonable amount of time. When I face a challenge, I want an answer even quicker than that. But God does not work within my timeline. God exists outside of time. As Psalm 90:4 (NKJV) states: For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night. This same verse in another translation says: For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours (NLT). Our timing and God’s timing are not the same. But rest assured, God’s answer – God’s move in our situation – is always right on time.
And third, when God seemed silent it was an opportunity for me to be honest with God about the way that the challenge was causing me to feel like I was going to be consumed. Psalm 23:4 (NKJV) states: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. We may know this verse, but when challenges come, fear can overwhelm us. Instead of hiding this from God – the God who knows all things – we need to talk about these feelings with God. God is not afraid of us coming to Him and exposing our frailties. God is a loving Father. And God wants to help us. God can give us the grace to be courageous and to trust Him even when the storms of life are raging. God can give us the grace to hold fast to the truth that God has a way out for us. Proverbs 3:6 (NKJV) states: In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
When we face challenges and it seems that God is silent, always remember that no one will ever love us more than God loves us. And no one will ever want the best for us the way God wants the best for us. No matter what we face, let us put our whole trust in God. Let us stand confident that our God will save us.
Psalm 116:5-6 (NKJV) states: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.
Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all public domains.
