When God Seems Silent

For the past few months, I have been fighting one of the toughest battles of my life. The battle is one involving my flesh.

A reality that is common in man is that no one wants to suffer affliction. Sure we go about our daily lives quoting scriptures and pledging our deepest devotion until some misfortune arise, at which time, we respond, "Why me?"

We want the glory, prosperity, and all the riches that come with being a believer, but when adversity strikes, we want to wage our flags and surrender. Come on soldiers, I ask you, "Where is the loyalty?"

We confess that we love God with our whole heart and we will serve him regardless of what happens in our lives. It is easy to pledge our allegiance to God during sunny times, but when the storms of life arise, we must remain faithful. A good soldier is loyal even at his weakest moment.

It is just as Job asserted, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble." His reply to his friends during a very low period proves that Job was faithful even when God seemed silent and his closest friends turned on him. After they accused him of having done evil, he replied, "Wearisome and miserable comforters you all are. How can you come to me with accusations? If the tables were turned, I would strengthen and encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would soothe your suffering. At this point in my life, I hardly know whether to answer you or be silent. But now God has taken away my strength. You [O Lord] have made desolate all my family and associates."

More plainly spoken, Job was saying that all he had was gone or had turned their backs on him. He was not sure where God was or that God even heard him. In chapter 16 verse 11 he asserts, "God has delivered me to the ungodly and cast me into the hands of the wicked."

During this crucial time in Job’s life, God appeared silent. In response, Job cursed the day wherein he was born, but remained loyal. In deep despair and desolateness, Job declared, "Though he slays me, yet will I trust him." This, my friends, is true devotion.

Job was faithful and unwavering. He ignored his wife’s suggestions and his friends’ accusations. This true servant, even after a confrontation with God, stated to his Creator, "I know that you can do all things, and that no thought or purpose of yours can be restrained. I spoke out of context, uttering what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me which I did not know." Yet in all of this Job remained faithful.

In the end, God’s anger was kindled against Job’s friends and he told them that they did not act in righteousness as Job did. Therefore the Lord blessed Job and his latter days were more than his beginning. Job lived 140 days; not a bad payoff for being faithful.

The message that I am attempting to convey is that we are to remain faithful to God even during those times when he seems silent and appears not to be hearing us at all. To respond with faith is to refuse to quit. We cannot give in or give up. God honors our faithfulness and rewards us according. "If you have the faith of a mustard seed, you can command mountains in your life."

A faith-filled individual understands that though it may seem that God is not listening, we have the assurance of David proclaiming that "he is a very present help during times of trouble."

There are many instances recorded in the Bible where God appeared to be silent: the relative term here is "appeared." During the four hundred so called "silent" years after the last of the inspired prophets spoke and the New Testament authors began to write, I can recall Paul’s letter to the Galatian church. In it, he informed them that when the time had fully come, God (who is never far from his people) sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law." This lamb would be a single sacrifice for man’s many sins.

The silent years were the moments for which God had been long preparing. It was the period of time God allowed the teachings of the Old Testament writers to be penetrated throughout the world. During this time, God said all that needed to be said. Man had sinned and needed a propitiation. The world had come to a place of hopelessness.

As I began to reflect on these truths, the poem "Footprints" came to mind. Although my doctor’s visits are met with one bad report after the next, I must hold true to my faith. I cannot give in no matter how alone I feel. When the things in our lives seem hopeless, it is then that God is carrying us. Trust me, you can rely on this. If ever a man is true to his word, God is. He, alone, is faithful and a very present help during those troubled times.

By Travestine J. Wright