When God Seems Silent

When God Seems Silent

By Pastor Gary Wayne

Text: Psalms 22:1-2, 3-5

Have you ever felt that God was giving you the silent treatment?
One of the things I love about David is how real his writings are. Whatever he was going through as he wrote this passage, we see his raw feelings.
“God, why have you forsaken me? Why have you stopped listening?”

Then we see David do what he is famous for – in the face of raw feelings, he stops and begins to reflect on the faithfulness of God. Ver.3-5

TRUTH - God’s silence doesn’t mean He is absence.

I think anyone who has formed a relationship with God, goes through times when it feels that God is silent. I can’t seem to feel Him, and it seems He is not listening.

I want to spend time looking at how we tend to respond when this happens.
I think how I respond sheds a LOT of light on my heart towards Him.
When God seems silent, I think my knee-jerk reaction is much like David expressed.
“God, you have abandoned me.” “Why are You not listening.”

But what does His truth tell us?
Heb 13:5 “…For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Mal 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change…”
I can trust Him that when He is silent, He hasn’t changed towards me.
He doesn’t abandon us - He is not moody – He is not disappointed – He is not distracted – He is not indifferent towards me?
Whether I feel Him or not, God is not elsewhere!

When God seems silent, I need to KNOW Ro. 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

One of the enemy’s oldest lies is: “If God loved you, He would _____ .”

My mind keeps thinking of the illustration of how a baby gets what they want.
They throw a fit, and cry and fuss, sometimes screaming, etc.
So as a child begins to grow and mature, a good parent learns the sound of a real cry to have their need met, and the manipulative cry.

How do I respond when He is silent?
My response says so much about what is in my heart, or what I actually believe.

When He doesn’t answer my prayers do I quit praying? It tells what I believe.
When I pray for the sick, and don’t see a miracle, what do I tend to do with the next sick person? Why?

Bill Johnson – “Every time God says no, it is because He has a better yes in store.”

I think a sign that I have started to mature in my relationship with Him is when I quit walking by feelings and walk by faith.
How can that be measured except through times of pressure?
Where my faith is tested.

How should I respond when God seems silent?
* Ask Him why.
Remember that His silence doesn’t mean He is inactive.

* Be still.
Ps 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God…” (NKJV)
“Stop striving and know that I am God… - (NASV)
“Surrender your anxiety. Be still and realize that I am God…” – (TPT)

Quit talking and listen. (Gary quit whining or quit throwing a fit.)
Talk about things that He is interested in.

* Anticipate Him.
He wants to draw me into a deeper intimate relationship than I have ever had.
When I lived in Thompson Falls, I went to a special meeting where everybody seemed to be touched by God but not me. When I went home, I sat on my bed and cried out to God, and He began speaking to me through Ps. 37.
It was such a precious intimate moment I have carried with me for over 40 years.
Looking back I don’t think I would remember having been touched by God like everyone else in the room.

* Respect the right of God to be silent. I don’t have to know why.
In the mean time, read God’s word. The primary God speaks to us is through His word. Keep praying, and reading His Word.

Is the only time I come into His presence because I NEED something?
Do I set time aside to fellowship with Him when I don’t NEED Him to do what I want?
Do I set time aside just hang out with Him because of how AWSOME He is?