Have you ever felt that God was giving you the silent treatment? What is the Lord’s purpose for not immediately answering prayer? How should you respond when God seems distant?

1 – Examples of God’s Silence

Silence is not a welcome relief when one is waiting on an answer from God! Yet there are many examples in the Bible.

• Noah building the Ark (Genesis 6-8)
• God decided to test Abraham and commanded him to sacrifice his one, true heir. (Genesis 22)
• Mary and Martha and their sick brother Lazarus (John 11)
• 400 years of silence between the testaments
• Silence in heaven (Rev. 8:1)

2 – Why is God sometimes silent?

No doubt there have been times when we have wanted to hear from God, and it seemed all heaven was silent. We ask ourselves why God is giving me the silent treatment. Why would our God who loves us, and who has gone to great lengths to communicate with us through His Word and through the Holy Spirit as we study and read His Word, keep silent?

It is not because He is indifferent. God cares! See Romans 5:8. It certainly is not because He is ignorant. See Isaiah 46:9-10. It certainly is not because of any inability on His part. See 2 Peter 3:3-9. So why is God silent?

• To get our attention.
• To convict us of unconfessed sin.
• Because we aren’t ready to listen.
• To teach us to trust Him (Hebrews 13:5 teaches that even if we can’t see Him working, He’s with us.)
• To help us learn to distinguish between His voice and other voices.
• To motivate us to persevere until we experience a breakthrough.
• To teach us to simply sit quietly in His presence.

3 – How do we respond to God’s silence?

Too often we respond in the “natural” way.

• Disappointment.
• Discouragement.
• Confusion.
• Doubt (e.g.—People who don’t believe in God but cry out in desperation for help.)
• Guilt (Some people fear that they have sinned.)
• Anger.
• Fear (Some Christians feel deserted by God or worry that they have lost their salvation.)

4 – How should we respond to God’s silence?

What can we do that is positive and spiritual?

• Ask God why. Jesus questioned the Father (Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34).
• Remember that God’s silence doesn’t mean He’s inactive.
• Trust Him. In His silence, He is working for good in your life (Ps. 46:10; 138:8).
• Anticipate a more intimate relationship with Him.
• Respect God’s right to be silent. Deliberately set aside time to be quiet before Him.
• Read God’s Word, and tell Him you are available to listen.
• Keep praying. Eventually, you will have a breakthrough.

Through times of silence, God convicts us of sin, develops our trust in Him, and matures us. When the Father seems distant, faithfully seek Him and watch for His provision.

Categories: John