Tag: God’s silence

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Psalms

God’s silence

Psalms

Psalm 88 could almost have been written by Job.  This is yet another psalm that deals with God’s silence in our suffering.  And as in real life, we don’t always see a happy ending.

The psalmist starts by basically crying out, “Hear me O God.  Are you there?  I’m overwhelmed with my troubles.  I’m sick and dying.  I have no strength left.”  (Psalm 88:1-5)

He then complains that God would let this happen to him.

Again and again, he says, “You did this.”  “You did that.”

“You put me down in the pits.  You cover me with your wrath.  You’ve taken away all those who are close to me and they now reject me.”  (6-8)

He then concludes by saying, “I’m calling to you Lord.  Why do you hide from me?  Why do you reject me?  I’ve been suffering all my life.  I’ve been left alone, and darkness is my closest friend.”  (13-18)

There the psalm ends.  There are no words of hope.  No words of comfort.

But isn’t that how we feel sometimes?  If that’s how you’re feeling, know that you’re not alone.  The psalmist felt that way.  Most, if not every Christian, have gone through those feelings some time in their lives.

Some have given up and never found their way out of that pit.  But don’t be like those who give up.

The thing to remember above all is this:  Never base your faith on your feelings.  Base it upon God’s character and his Word.

Your feelings waver.  They are never stable.  And because of that, they are not a trustworthy foundation to build your foundation upon.

Satan knows this, and he will try all he can during the times of God’s silence to bring you to despair.  To rob you of your faith.

But while our feelings are constantly changing, God and his Word never do.  His promises are words you can stand upon.

So when you’re feeling down, when you’re feeling discouraged, put your faith not in your feelings, but in God and his promises.

If you do, no matter how dark the tunnel you’re going through, you will see the other side.

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Isaiah

Though God seems silent

Isaiah

Sometimes as we look at all the evil that is around us, we wonder where God is?  Why doesn’t he do something?  Is he doing anything at all?  Does he even care?

And indeed, that seems to be the case in this passage.  In the face of a people who “were feared far and wide, who were an aggressive nation,” God remained quiet, looking down on events from his dwelling place, seemingly with disinterest.  (Isaiah 18:4)

But then God says, the time will come when he will no longer just sit back and watch.  Instead,

[God] will cut off the shoots with pruning knives, and cut down and take away the spreading branches. 

They will all be left to the mountain birds of prey and to the wild animals; the birds will feed on them all summer, the wild animals all winter.  (Isaiah 18:5-6)

In other words, although God may be sitting back now, he will bring judgment.  He brought judgment on this aggressive nation, and the time will come when he will bring judgment on those who oppose him and his people.

But here’s the interesting part:  God is working that even his enemies would turn to him and repent. 

It says in verse 7 that this same aggressive people that used to be feared and who were hostile to God and his people would bring gifts to God and submit to his Lordship.

I think it’s important to remember the words of Peter who wrote,

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.  The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.  (2 Peter 3:9-10)

Always remember that God’s will is to save, not destroy.  The day will come when people who refuse to repent will eventually be destroyed.  But God desires their repentance, and that’s why he’s putting off his judgment.

So as his people, how should we respond? 

Let us pray for the people around us, even those who hate us, that they may escape the judgment to come and find the life that we ourselves have found in Christ. 

As God’s children trying to be like our Father, how can we do any less?

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Genesis

God’s silence through our suffering

God's silence

There are many stories of God’s people suffering throughout the Bible.  I don’t know that any of them suffered any more than Jacob.

Oh sure, Job’s suffering was far more intense.  But it was over a far shorter period of time (at least that’s always been my impression, anyway — feel free to correct me if I’m wrong).

Prophets were persecuted; many were even killed for proclaiming God’s word.  But at least God was speaking to them.  Jacob on the other hand…

This passage in Genesis 46 strikes me for one major reason.  It was great that God told Jacob, “Go down to Egypt.  I’ll be with you.  And Joseph himself will close your eyes.”

But where was God the previous 20 years or so?  Where were his words of comfort that Joseph was still alive during those 20 years?

After Joseph was sold into slavery, 13 years passed before he became an official of Egypt.

Seven more years passed where there was an abundance of food in Egypt.

It was only after that, during the famine, that Jacob would find out his son was still alive, give or take a few years.  Why didn’t God say anything?

When Jacob was deceived by his sons into thinking Joseph was dead, the Bible says he mourned many days and would not be comforted.  He said,

In mourning will I go down to the grave to my son.  (Genesis 37:35)

The years didn’t dull his pain either.  Twenty years later, he was still making decisions based on the death of Joseph.

He refused to send Benjamin (the only other son he had by his beloved wife Rachel) with his brothers to Egypt on their first trip because he feared something might happen to him.

And when the brothers said that the lord of the land had commanded that they bring back Benjamin to prove they were not spies, Jacob refused to let him go.  He said,

My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left.

If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow (Genesis 42:38).

It was only when things got desperate, that he finally relented, saying,

If I am bereaved, I’m bereaved.  (Genesis 43:14).

Yet throughout this whole time of suffering, God said…nothing.

There are times when we go through suffering, and yet despite it all, God seems near.

We sense his presence.  We sense his comfort.  And we still sense his voice in our lives.  And because of that, even though we’re struggling, our trials are a little easier to bear.

But there are times when God is silent.  When our prayers just seem to bounce back off the ceiling.  When there are no answers to our questions.  And when God seems a mile away.

Jacob went through that for 20 years.

And yet sight unseen, God was working.  God had a plan to save Jacob and his family that Jacob could not see.

It wasn’t that God didn’t care through this time of silence.  He was working in Jacob’s family throughout each of those 20 years.

He was working in Joseph.

He was working in the hearts of Joseph’s brothers.

And yes, he was working even in Jacob.  Jacob just couldn’t see it.

But when he did, all the years of sorrow fell off like a weight.  And joy was restored once again.

Maybe you’re going through a hard time right now.  And God seems distant.  It seems like he doesn’t care.  It seems as though he’s abandoned you.

God didn’t abandon Jacob in those 20 years.  He hasn’t abandoned you.  He’s still working.  He’s still listening to your cries.  And he still has a plan for your life.  So hang on to him.

It may be one month, it might be one year, it might be 20 years.  It might even be…tomorrow.  But you will see God’s work in your life once again.

So hold on.  Don’t give up.

As the apostle Paul once wrote,

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:3-5)