In the climactic ending scene of one of my favorite movies, Cool Hand Luke, Paul Newman who plays Lucas Jackson goes to an abandoned church to talk to God. After several failed attempts at prayer he feels as if God is giving him the silent treatment. I love the movie for several reasons but this scene truly is one that I identify with. I can’t speak for everyone, sometimes I talk so much I wonder if I can speak for myself but I have had times when I felt as if I was getting the silent treatment from God. I know the feeling of Lucas Jackson of being on his knees in the church, folding his hands, trying his best to pray as he has been taught and hearing nothing then peeking up only to see empty rafters above his head.
There have been times when the voice of God seemed strong, unwavering and direct (admittedly not as often as I would like). There have been times when I felt overcome by waves of grace so strong that it brought tears and I am not one easily given to those emotions (OK, the older I get the sappier I become). However, there have been times when my spirit felt dry as the voice of God seemed silent. What is going on when God seems silent?
There is an old saying, “If you feel distant from God, ask, ‘Who Moved?’” The question reminds us of the omnipresence of God who promises to be with us always, never leaving or forsaking us. However, there are times when God is with us but silent. Before Jesus came to the disciples in a supernatural way, walking on the water, he watched them from a distance as he let them struggle against the wind alone. Another time Jesus was in the boat with the disciples in the midst of a terrible storm. The word used to describe the storm is SIEZEMOS from which we get out word seismograph; the device used to measures earthquakes. They feared for their lives. Jesus was right there with them but he was not doing anything. In fact, he was asleep. Although Psalm 121:4 tells us, “he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. There are times in every life when God seems distant or napping as we cry out to him. What is going on in those times? What do we do?
Often God seems distant because we did indeed move. When the distance is caused by our drifting we need to draw back to Him. The first checkpoint is our connection with Him. Where are we in listening, understanding and following His word? When help is needed in understanding, communicating, connecting and following; do what is necessary to find the help needed. Don’t let pride, bitterness, or laziness get in the way. This is why it is vital to be active in a community of believers.
There are other times when we are sincerely trying our best in prayer & Bible study to commune, connect and draw near to God but he seems silent and distant. These are the difficult days when the Scriptures seem dry as dust and prayers never seem to get past the ceiling. Where is God in these times and why is he silent? First, do not despair; you are not alone in these days. Read the Psalms and you will find prayers from David and writers who honestly cried out with the same questions.
Even when God is silent He is with us. He promised to be with us always and never leave or forsake (Matthew 28:20 & Hebrews 13:5). He often uses silence to allow us to grow in our own faith as we struggle. Jesus left the disciples, in Mark 6, to strain alone for a while but at the right time He came to them, even when it seemed humanly impossible for help to arrive, He literally walked on water to get there. When we need Him, He comes at the right time and nothing can hinder His arrival. Look at the time as Jesus was silent in the midst of the SIEZEMOS storm that they thought would be their demise. Rather than fear they should have interpreted His silence as the mood of faith. They were not in danger. As we often do today, they over exaggerated the trouble. They were not about to drown. The boat was not about to sink. They just took on a little water. In fact they forgot as long as they were with Jesus they didn’t even need the boat. If the boat sank He could walk on the water and carry them to shore. He would teach them that lesson of faith soon enough, Oh if we would just wait and have faith!
Often God’s silence precedes a great event from Him. Remember there were three days of silence before the resurrection. After the last word from an Old Testament prophet there were some 400 years of silence before Jesus entered human history as, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” So next time God seems silent. Grow in your faith as you trust him to do something great in your midst!
