Does God seem far off at times? Silent?

There have been moments and days in my life when God’s presence is so real.  I’ve experienced countless times when I hear Him speak, just as if He is right beside me in the car or in a room. There are so many specific instances when He’s directed me, and I have known the path to take because He spoke and/or made it obvious.  I have chronicled these events in my life so that I never forget His faithfulness.  More importantly, I want future generations to read these accounts and know that God spoke; He provided guidance and was an active, alive and faithful God!

 I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus lives inside of me.  His Holy Spirit came in when I was saved – and I felt that same Holy Spirit wash me and cleanse me when I was baptized (definitely a story for another time).  After that incredible experience as a young girl, God has made Himself known and answered so many prayers.  Each of these encounters points to the faithfulness of our Sovereign God.  It also underscores the fact that He is real and personable.

But there are times in my life when God has been silent.  Times when I’ve prayed, but yet He seems like a distant God vs. a personal one who knows me by name.

How about you?  Have you experienced that as well, my friend?

From other believers I’ve spoken to (not like I’ve taken a survey or anything scientific), I think this is normal, and yet…there may be some reasons why God is silent.

First, let’s examine some things before we BLAME God for His silence.  It’s always easier to blame Him vs. looking at ourselves.

Is there any unconfessed sin in your life?  Maybe it’s something you’ve buried and haven’t wanted to face.  Perhaps it’s a sin that you never confessed from something way back. You tried to bury it because you were ashamed.

Maybe it’s a sin of omission, not commission.  What I mean by that is perhaps God asked you to do something. He called you to do something, and you haven’t been obedient.  You’ve omitted it from your agenda, in other words.  You’ve continued on in life as if you didn’t hear Him speak to you.  You’ve somewhat ignored His promptings. Perhaps the Holy Spirit directed you to apologize – and you ignored it. Or He asked you to forgive who ever wronged you.  Maybe He called you to teach Sunday School; maybe He called you to serve in your church or another organization in a certain ministry; or it could’ve been witnessing to a friend about Jesus; maybe it was something as simple as providing a meal for someone sick – or forgiving one who hurt you deeply (yes, I mentioned this one twice as I think tons of us struggle with forgiveness).  Or staying in your marriage when you’re fed up!  God reminds us in His Word that he will not hear us when we have unconfessed sin in our heart and life. Isaiah 59:2 tells us this.  “The Message” version of this verse states this principle in such a way that I had to share it.  “There’s nothing wrong with God; the wrong is in you.  Your wrongheaded lives caused the split between you and God.  Your sins got between you so that he doesn’t hear.” 

Wow!  This verse hit me between the eyes.  The wrong is in YOU.  It doesn’t get much plainer than that.

I’ve certainly experienced that myself.  If you want intimacy with the Lord, confess ALL of your sins and get right with Him.

Another reason why God might be silent is that you’ve neglected your time with Him.  You go to church, you try to be a good person and a God-fearing believer, but when it boils right down to it, you really don’t spend much time with the God of the Universe who sent His Son to save you.  You hear a sermon on Sunday, you may even sing in the choir or serve in the church.  You give money to your church and other great ministries.  But you just don’t take time EACH DAY to pray and hear from the Lord by reading the Bible.  Sound familiar? 

If that’s the case, is there any wonder why God seems far off – and removed from your life?  If you have a dear and close friend who you never talk to, make an effort to see or spend time with – or even know what’s going on in his/her life, then it just stands to reason that the two of you will grow apart.

It’s not that the relationship can’t be fixed or healed. But the ball is in your court!  As the old adage goes, God hasn’t moved.

He’s been there waiting the entire time…waiting in the living room, if you will, for you to sacrifice some time and spend it with Him.  He wants UNINTERRUPTED time with you, His child, spent focused on Him…focused on who HE is.  You and I can only do that when we open the Word and are intentional to praise Him, thank Him and pour out our hearts to him.  The entire process takes commitment, time, sacrifice, energy and focus.

The first two reasons (unconfessed sin and neglecting time in the Word/in prayer) are logical and make total sense why the Lord may be distant or silent.  The Bible tells us to expect distance if we have sin in our life or we are neglecting time with the Lord.

But what if you strive to be consistent in having a “quiet time” and making time with the Lord a priority?  I mean, you read the Bible, you pray – and not just to check the box – but really pray with all your heart and “cry out” to the Lord and desire to commune with Him, but you still feel somewhat removed and like the Lord is out there somewhere, but for whatever reason, His voice is difficult to discern.  He is quiet.

You’ve been still.  You’ve waited.  But. Nothing.  What do you do then?

In my limited life experiences, I believe this scenario is totally normal – and happens to each of us. Let’s look at the Word to see if that’s true.  In the Psalms, David, the shepherd boy who grew to be God’s chosen King over Israel but even more importantly, the One who God called “the man after my own heart”, finds himself in this scenario.  Even David cries out to God throughout the Psalms and sometimes asks God the tough questions (It’s one of many reasons I love the Psalms)!  In Psalm 13, for example, David addresses the Lord and is bold in the first few verses when he prays…

          How long, Lord?  Will you forget me forever?

          How long will you hide your face form me?

          How long must I wrestle with my thoughts?

                    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

King David, who communed with God so intimately, found that the God of the Universe – His God and Yaweh was silent at times…and distant. Obviously, he is distraught, needing God’s comfort, encouragement…just a word from the Lord!!

So, what did David do when God didn’t get back to him immediately? When God didn’t reply to David’s accusations, did David pack up and decide to quit praying?  Did he give up on God, his faith and praying?

David’s response to God’s distance or silence is contained within that same Psalms.  David returns to what He knows.  And what He knows best is the character and nature of the One True Jehovah God.  David knows that His God is loving, true, good through and through with no hint of sin. He knows His God is a friend, a confidant…and he draws strength from this relationship (remember Goliath?).  David knows he is nothing without this God of the Universe.  David knows He is a faithful God!

In verses 5-6 of Psalm 13, David abruptly changes his tune from one crying out and being accusatory to God (due to his lack of reply) to a servant who is submissive and trusts.

Verses 5-6: “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.”

What a contrast!

I don’t know about you, but I’d be embarrassed to admit the number of times I’ve whined and complained and even BLAMED God vs. having a servant’s heart and surrendered attitude of humility.

In Isaiah 55:9 the prophet reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord”.

The Lord, the Creator and Sovereign King of the Universe, thinks differently, acts differently and is infinite. Our way of thinking is so finite; we think in terms of days, months, moments.  And most of us want an instantaneous or “quick fix”. God thinks long term.  His ways we will never comprehend.

Bottom line…
 Basically, when you pray and seek the Lord, and He is silent or distant, you just keep doing what you know is right.  That’s when your faith must kick in, and you trust in the character of Almighty God who has never failed you. You keep believing that the God of the Universe loves you and WANTS a relationship with you. And even though the relationship might seem one-sided, you keep persevering in prayer; you keep reading scripture; you keep crying out to God, believing and knowing that He loves you and hears you.  Why?  Because that’s what faith does.  In God’s love letter to us, the Bible, God tell us to “always pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1).  In Ephesians, Paul exhorts us, “Pray at all times in the spirit, with all prayer and supplication.  To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18). 

Never are we promised a resounding answer – a profound word from Him.

In the Old Testament, people went for years without hearing from the Lord. Just like the Israelites, we think we are so entitled.  We think God should “drop everything” and turn His attention solely to us.

All of it is somewhat of a mystery.  All I know is there have been times in my life when I’ve been trying my best to be in the Word, praying and seeking the Lord when I didn’t totally hear from Him.  And then, out of the blue, the answer comes. His voice is so clear and discernable.  It’s just a matter of waiting…listening…being that “watchmen on the wall” that is spoken of repeatedly in the Psalms.  When He does speak, when He does come through, it’s totally worth the waiting!!!

This side of heaven, I’m not sure if we will ever truly know WHY God is sometimes quiet or silent. But I do trust that He is growing me and my faith in the process. And there is a greater, divine purpose – even if I don’t know it or comprehend it.

Sometimes I wonder if He’s really that silent or we just have too much “noise” in our life – too many distractions.  That’s a topic for another time.

In the meantime, keep persevering in prayer!!  Don’t give up!  Remember, the Christian life is not a sprint…it’s a marathon.  Finish well!