The Silent God

Silence is a deafening sound. We may think we cannot hear anything. However, silence can sometimes be louder than it seems. When God seems silent, the noise gets loud.

When God seems silent, He is louder than you think.

Have you ever felt that God has forgotten you and is being silent when you need an answer? Perhaps you have shifted your perspective from viewing Him as the Holy God to the Silent God. You think He is purposely not answering your questions and prayers. Here, the silence is deafening. The lack of answers seems to scream louder and louder. You continue to shout in confusion, and God seems to continue His silence. Or, is God’s voice sounding clear, and you can’t hear it?

1 Kings 19:10-13 says:

10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

Elijah was obedient to God and did great things for Him. However, when Elijah received word that Jezebel was threatening his life, he fled. Elijah immediately became afraid, feeling that no one was protecting him. Elijah thought he was the only one left, and God was silent. Is this true? Was God silent when Elijah needed him the most? Is it true that God is quiet even when He promises to be with you?

Sometimes God may speak in a small whisper. When God seems silent and inactive in our lives, we should remember that it is an opportunity to see the provisions He is making. It is an opportunity to strengthen your faith. That still small voice is still whispering and lighting your path, one step at a time.

But there are times when God’s silence may be because we are not listening. The noise of disobedience is clouding your ears. You can’t hear God because you are not listening to Him speak through His Word. You let the noise of busyness sound louder than God’s voice. God may not speak to us like He did to the prophets in the Old Testament, but His Spirit is with believers today. God speaks to us through His Word.

God is not the Silent God. He is the God who is speaking to you. He is the God who is directing you on the path you should go. You must listen to His voice when you read His Word. You must listen to God’s voice when you are in prayer. You must listen to God’s voice when He speaks through others.

Are you listening to God today?