Over the last week I have read 2 blogs and one email that all address a similar problem—what are we to do when our heart is focused upon God but He remains silent. I’m confident that all who have been Christians for a significant amount of time have experienced this, and sometimes Small Group Leaders and Bible Study teachers are compelled to give lessens that are not fresh, but come from the storehouse of our Christian walk. This should not be the norm, but it does happen.
- One blog spoke about an extended hospital stay where God appeared mostly distant (with the exception of when other believers prayed).
- Another blog spoke of a man who tried church but gave up when “nothing happened”
- The email I received referred to Malachi 3:3 where God is described as a refiner and purifier of silver. The tone of the message was that many times we just have to wait and let God do what He does until the process is complete.
An interesting aspect of that passage in Malachi is the historical setting. Malachi spoke after the return from the Babylonian captivity. The walls of protection had been rebuilt under Nehemiah, the Law had been restored to prominence under Ezra, and the Temple operations had been restored under Haggai and Zechariah. Everything seemed to be poised for blessing when Malachi reminded the people that God would purify and refine the people. What happens next? 400 years of silence. How frustrating to have done all the right things then experience silence from God! [Imagine all that has happened in American History since the founding of Jamestown in 1607, that is how long God was silent with regards to speaking Scripture through his prophets.]
Scripture is full of times when God’s people had to wait until God decided to act.
- 400 years between Joseph’s death and Moses’ birth
- 40 years Moses was in Midian until the Burning Bush
- 15-20 years between David’s anointing and becoming King
- John the Baptist was imprisoned long enough that he began to wonder if Jesus was who he thought He was.
- Disciples kept falling asleep while Jesus prayed in the Garden before his crucifixion (nothing happening?)
- Eutychus fell asleep during a LONG service and fell out a window (Acts 20). Eutychus wasn’t hearing from God while he slept that soundly!
If you are going through a drought of the soul, now is the time to demonstrate faith (Heb 11:1). Faith, by definition, involves hope and things that are not seen/apparent!
As we approach the Easter season, remember that the GLORY of the Resurrection only happened after days of SILENCE. Don’t give up hope while waiting in the desert!