Saturday, October 15, 2016

How To Interpret God's Silence

Hey Friend,

I've heard it said that the Teacher (God) is silent during the test.  I'll revisit this thought in a moment, but for now let's go with that theory.

I'll tell you where my mind goes...straight back to Jr. High in Miss McDowell's English class.  Miss McDowell was an older teacher - an institution at Jefferson Jr. High School.  She was rather tall and quite sturdy.  Everyday she wore dresses, matronly pumps, and fiery red lipstick on her pursed lips.  

When she administered a test, there was no talking...no sirreeee.  There was no asking questions.  Even muffled paper shuffling would make per pause and peer over her reading glasses as she sat at her desk in front of the class.  "Is there a problem Mr. Johnson?" she'd ask with the warmth of the Spanish Inquisition.

I think sometimes that's how we perceive God when we are going through a time of trial or a test.  I know I have looked at Him that way in the past.

God is not a crotchety, silent teacher administering tests and waiting for us to fail.

My view of God has shifted over the years as I have come to believe the Truth about His character.  Here is a stance I have adopted...

When things are going well (or relatively so), I believe that we are to fill our minds with His Truth...meditating on it every day.

Then, when the trials come (and they will), I don't interpret God's seeming silence as indifference or turning His back on us...just the opposite.  I believe He says lovingly and with encouragement, "Bev (Name), okay now I want YOU to speak the Truth I've taught you into your circumstances."  

I believe He does this in the apparent silence so that we can profess and speak the only Truth that will bring any form of peace, comfort, hope, joy, and love....His Holy Word.  The Truth is what sets us free!

I may be all wrong, but I do believe that God gives us opportunities (when the rubber meets the road) to confess the hope that we have within us.  

We need to keep speaking into our circumstances and calling on our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray with and for us.

So back to the initial question...is God truly silent?  I do believe that if we are walking in disobedience, God is not going to shout the Truth at us.  I also believe that sometimes, due to our circumstances and emotions, God may appear to be silent and distant.  But, that is not in keeping with His character.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

God is steadfast which means He is unswerving, unalterable, He cannot be moved. His loved toward us never fails or falters.  It is changeless. 

God is as near as a whisper and He never goes "Miss McDowell" on us.  He may not be speaking to us in a way that we can hear at the moment, but He is always speaking - in His Creation, through His people, in His word.

Think about it - if we are going through a trial or test - God always gives us an "open book" test because His Word (Bible) is always available to us.  

"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me."  (Psalm 
54:4)


God may not speak audibly, but He speaks and He sustains through His Word to us.  Our job is to meditate on His Word and to ask the counselor He gives us, in the person of the Holy Spirit, to be our wise guide.  

There may be times that God seems to be silent, but I'm not certain that the apparent silence isn't born out of OUR circumstances, moods, disobedience, sin, or failing to seek Him first above all things.  

I'm so thankful that God is mindful of my sinful frame and knows I am but dust. I believe He is always wanting to speak life into my life, but sometimes my prideful agenda and self-sufficiency gets in the way.  

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

I'm no theologian, but I believe that God is always speaking in one form or another. When I look back at the times in my life when He seemed to be silent, I believe that I was the one who wasn't listening.

How about you?  How does God speak to you in good times?  In the midst of trials?  Has He ever seemed silent to you?  What Truth have you learned about God's character?

Dear Heavenly Father,  I praise you that you speak to me in so many ways...through the beauty of Your creation, the loving words of others, and especially through the love letter you have written to us - your Holy Word, the Bible.  Thank you for being a loving God who encourages us to speak the Truth into our circumstances.  I praise you that you are a God who coaches and encourages vs. chides and condemns.  Your will is that we would hear your voice and turn from our evil ways.  Grant me ears to hear you Lord.  Drown out the voice of the enemy.  I praise you that your steadfast love for me endures forever.  Praise be to your name. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Be blessed...


26 comments:

  1. Thank you for this post Bev. I needed to hear every word.

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    1. Susan,
      You're welcome. Often when I write posts, I am writing to myself and this is some Truth that I needed to know as well!! Most of my writing comes out of my own struggles. I hope this brings hope to your heart!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  3. Our default seems to be the tendency to interpret the silence of God as condemnation or apathy. I've never heard the maxim that you started with, and it sheds a whole new (and helpful!) light on the subject. Thank you, Bev.

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    1. Michele,
      I heard that line in a Christian movie and I'm not sure I agree with it. I do believe God is always talking through His Word, others, Creation. I always want Him to post His answers on a billboard for me and that's generally not how He works. You're right, though, that our default is assuming condemnation or apathy...neither of which could be farther from the truth.
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  4. I agree with Michele on her whole comment. I needed to read this today as well, been really struggling with my walk. Been reading The Problem Solver by Tom Gehring and this book has really helped me to know where to take my problems, I just need some reminders at times when I get down.

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    1. Becky,
      We ALL struggle and God does not want us to carry our burdens alone. He wants us to lay OUR burdens at His feet and take HIS yoke which is light and easy. He cares about all your problems and want you to give them to Him and He will give you peace in return. So many times I've carried needless heavy baggage. I hope this is a reminder that He is ALWAYS there for you and loves you!!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  5. I agree with Michele on her whole comment. I needed to read this today as well, been really struggling with my walk. Been reading The Problem Solver by Tom Gehring and this book has really helped me to know where to take my problems, I just need some reminders at times when I get down.

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  6. Kay Arthur wrote about God's silence in His Imprint, My Expression: "Whether we feel His presence and watchcare or not, God is there--maybe not manifesting Himself now but never ceasing to love us with His everlasting love and never failing to cause all things...even His silence...to work together for our good" (p. 41). I found great encouragement in that. I also agree with you, Bev, that when intimacy, joy, and excitement disappear for awhile, we have to walk in the gut-level knowledge of all we've studied in Scripture. When the silence is broken, our relationship with Him will be more glorious than before!

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    1. Nancy,
      I LOVE that quote by Kay Arthur. Whether or not we "feel" Him there is IS there never ceasing to love, never failing to work together for our good. What a comfort that is. Claiming and trusting in His never-failing nearness is hard when despair and sadness are our companions. Thanks for the reminder that God is no less near...He is always there for us...Praise! Love your wisdom sweet friend,
      Bev xx

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  7. God speaks to me not only through His word but through worshi musica and nature

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    1. Barbie,
      I agree - He is always speaking through so many forms. The question is, am I listening? Like you music and nature really speak to my heart!!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  8. I love that idea that God gives an open book test! Recently He spoke to me powerful through a worship song, "Though You Slay Me." My daughter sent it to me on WhatsApp when I was having a hard day, and it spoke so powerfully to me. God speaks through so many ways.

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    1. Betsy,
      When God gave me that thought about providing an "open book" in times of testing, I was like...WOW! Our God is good. His Word is always there, but too often I am quick to trust feelings over His Word and I think He'd prefer it the other way around. I will have to check out that song. Music really speaks to me!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  9. Bev ... yes and amen! God is always reaching out to us, always inviting us to something deeper, more significant, more challenging. Stretching us slowly but surely to be more and more like His dear Son.

    I'm so grateful He doesn't give up on us ...

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    1. Linda,
      Just when we get "comfortable" God stretches us a little bit more. So thankful, though, that He does it in such a loving way for our benefit and that no matter what, He never gives up on us!!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  10. I've always believed that God's silence isn't an indication of His absence. Like you said, it isn't within His nature to turn His back on us. I know that in some of my hardest moments, when God did seem more quiet, it was that prompting that drew me into His word and to seek His presence more. Sometimes I have to wonder if His "silence" isn't really Him just telling us to slow down and listen harder! Love your encouragement and reminder of His faithfulness today, Bev.

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    1. Tiffany,
      It sounds like you've always had a pretty good handle on these concepts - that is a blessing. It took me a little bit longer to truly believe that God is never absent and He never turns His back on us...his patience is unfathomable. His nature is LOVE and love does not turn a blind eye. I agree that He urges us to slow down and listen harder. Great is His faithfulness!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  11. Bev, what a beautiful post. I hadn't thought before about the thought that maybe God is slient during our tests so we can speak His truth over our circumstances. Instead of believing the lie that He doesn't care what we're (I) am going thorugh, I need to look on His quietness as the reminder to speak His word, His truths in the midst of the hard.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts. They resonated with me! I'm your neighbor over at Holly's today. :)

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    1. Jeanne,
      Like I said, I'm no theologian, but I can just envision God patiently saying to me, "Okay, Bev, speak the Truth I've shared with you into your circumstances because there is power in My Word. The enemy so wants us to buy into the lie that God doesn't care what we're going through. So glad this resonated with you...joining with you in casting out the lies and hanging onto the truth!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  12. I've grappled with God's silence lately, Bev, so this post hits close to home for me. I feel like God is always trying to communicate something to us, like you've said. And I love your point about speaking the truth in those times of silence. That's a great insight! Thanks for sharing and tackling a difficult topic.

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    1. Beth,
      You are not alone...I have wrestled and grappled with this subject. I've wondered how to interpret God's seeming silence, but the more I learn, I don't believe I silent and/or distant God is in keeping with His character which is love. I believe He's always speaking or is coaching us to claim the knowledge and wisdom we've already gleaned from His Word. I certainly don't have all the answers, but I know I can trust Love's heart.
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  13. Bev, so many of us have pictured God as the stern teacher you mentioned. But I agree he is always speaking through his word and his spirit. Good to meet you on Live Free Thursday!

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    1. Sarah,
      Unfortunately I held onto that view of God for a long time. So thankful He has been patient with me in continuing to pursue me and reveal His TRUE nature which is a loving God who continually speaks to His children. So glad you popped by!!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  14. I agree, God is not really silent, even when he seems to be. I think sometimes I feel he is because he doesn't answer all the questions I'm asking but he is speaking in other ways if I listen. I like your description that tests with God are always "open book" tests.

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    1. Lesley,
      Isn't if kind of funny that we expect God to answer our questions on our terms and in our timing? At least I do. Or, He may be speaking and I'm not listening. What a wonderful teacher who leaves the Book open for us to look up answers...may we all not be too lazy...I appreciate your insights!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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