The Silence of God

Today I heard an inspiring,and challenging sermon from Dr. Charles Stanley. I thought I would share a few thoughts about it. The sermon was based on John 1:1-16: God's silence.

During the intertestamental time, for over 400 years, God has been silent, there was no prophetic words from the Lord. God knows about silence. There's a reason for God to be silent. The silence of God does not mean he is inactive in your life. A few questions to consider:

1- But what do you do when God is silent in your life?
2-What is God doing when he's silent?
3- Why is God's silent? Or why is it sometimes God appears to be distant in the most tragic moment (s) of our life?

What does God have in mind when he is silent? What is he trying to tell us, communicating to us and indicating to us?

When God appears to be silent there are reasons for it. First of all, God is trying to get our attention. God is not a God of demands. He is sovereign and has a higher purpose for us when he seems to be distant in our life. God knows exactly how to get our attention. Second, if you have unconfessed sins in your life God will be silent. God is holy and will not tolerate sins by any means. Unconfessed sins need to be confessed and repented in order to hear from God. Third, God is silent because we're not ready to hear him. Sometimes his purpose was to simply for us to trust him. God is never inactive in your life. He might be purposefully silent in your life but is never inactive. When God is silent means He is going to do something "AWESOME" in your life. In the case of Mary and Martha, it was the resurrection of Lazarus. Sometimes, we tune God in various ways, for example the world of technology (i.e. cell phones, computers, stereos, TV, I-pods, etc) keeps us busy we do not know how to be silent anymore. When was the last time God had you for himself, him solely? When was the last time you took the time to listen to God speaking to you, even through his silence?

Sometimes God wants us to be quiet in his presence. Sometimes he simply wants us to sit and kneel in his presence. Are you available to hear what God has to say? Another reason God is silent is to recognize his voice other than your own or other voices surrounding you. Can you recognize the voice of God when he begins to speak to you, giving you directions for your life? Can you distinguish the voice of God when other voices are speaking? Another important reason God is silent is because He wants to stir up our hunger (for him). God is interested in developing a personal, intimate relationship with him. The fact that you're not getting through that makes you more determined. God wants us to know him more, seeking him not just take his silence. Finally, God is silent because he just wants us.

How do you respond to God's silence? Or how should you respond when God appears to be distant?
1- Just ask him why?
It is acceptable to question God in this regard. Look at the cross: Jesus, himself, asked "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
When you do that you're expressing a deep interest in God's activity in your life.
2- To remember that his silence does not mean he is inactive.
God is constantly working behind the scenes, yet in his silence. God never ceases working in our life to bring to pass his purpose, plan, and will for us.
3- We should trust him (Ps. 46:10)
This may mean you just have to be quiet and trust God in the midst of his silence. Can you trust God with his silence? Can he trust you with his silence? Are you willing to trust God's silence? Do I respect God's right to be silent for his own right? Just because God is silent does not mean he is angry with you. Sometimes the best thing to do when God appears to be silent is just to be silent before him, just being in his presence.

In summary, when God appears to be silent "Meditate upon his word." Kepp praying, keep talkign to him, keep reading his word until a breakthrough. You breakthrough that silence by continue trusting him and standing in his presence