When God Seems Silent

God’s silence is NOT God’s absence.

1. WHEN GOD SEEMS SILENT — KEEP PRAYING HONESTLY

I’m hurting, Lord - will you forget me forever? How much longer, Lord? Will you look the other way when I’m in need? How much longer must I cling to this constant grief? I’ve endured this shaking of my soul. So how much longer will my enemy have the upper hand? It’s been long enough! Take a good look at me, God, and answer me! Breathe your life into my spirit. Bring light to my eyes in this pitch-black darkness or I will sleep the sleep of death.

PSALM 13:1–2 (TPT)

How long, Lord, must I call for help?

HABAKKUK 1:2 (NLT)

My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

ISAIAH 55:8-9 (NLT)

2. WHEN GOD SEEMS SILENT — REMEMBER WHAT HE HAS ALREADY SAID

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

NUMBERS 23:19 (NLT)

My soul feels dry and shriveled, useless and forgotten, but I will never forget your living truth.

PSALM 119:83 (TPT)

Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven.

PSALM 119:89 (NLT)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

MATTHEW 4: 1-2 (NLT)

The wilderness is not where God abandons His people - it is often where He prepares them.

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

PSALM 119:105 (NLT)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

MATTHEW 24:35 (ESV)

3. WHEN GOD SEEMS SILENT — TRUST THAT GOD IS WORKING IN THE WAITING

For since the beginning of the world, men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.

ISAIAH 64:4 (NKJ)

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.

ECCLESIASTES 3:1 (NKJ)

I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it.

ECCLESIASTES 3:14 (NKJ)

God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

ECCLESIASTES 3:17 (NKJ)

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

HEBREWS 6:10-12 (NIV)

… Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

JAMES 1:3-4 (NKJ)

4. WHEN GOD SEEMS SILENT — CHOOSE TRUST BEFORE YOU SEE THE ANSWER

Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

ISAIAH 41:10 (The Message)

For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.

HEBREWS 13:5 (NLT)

I’ll give you one more chance. When the music plays, if you fall down and worship the statue, all will be well. But if you refuse, you will be thrown into a flaming furnace within the hour. And what god can deliver you out of my hands then?

DANIEL 3:15 (LB)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not worried about what will happen to us. If we are thrown into the flaming furnace, OUR GOD IS ABLE to deliver us; and he will deliver us out of your hand, Your Majesty. But if he doesn’t, please understand, sir, that even then we will never under any circumstance serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have erected.”

DANIEL 3:16 (LB)

But suddenly, as he was watching, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisors, “Didn’t we throw three men into the furnace?” “Yes,” they said, “we did indeed, Your Majesty.” “Well, look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire, and they aren’t even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a god!” Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the open door of the flaming furnace and yelled: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God! Come out! Come here!” So they stepped out of the fire.

DANIEL 3:24-26 (LB)

But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

PSALM 13:5–6 (NLT)

Even though my life hangs in the balance, I’ll keep following what you’ve taught me, no matter what.

PSALM 119:109 (TPT)

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

(Corrie Ten Boom)

We live by faith, not by sight.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:7 (NIV)