Serving A Mute God

I pray into the night air...  nothing.

I cry for answers in the darkness...  not one ray of light.

I linger on my knees in expectation...  silence.

God goes mute.

I don't understand.

...so I sit.

Have you ever been there? Are you there now?

The world races forward while, it seems, you are sitting still... moving backward... making no difference at all... a waste... a disgrace... a shame...

These are the moments of deep testing of faith. It stinks when this happens (or does it?) Make no mistake: God can be present even though His voice is not reverberating. "Never will I leave you..."  God IS present. Like the air that enters your lungs... silent and still... yet very much present - and life-giving.

What do you do when God is mute?

My friend, Ron Edmondson, has written a tremendously helpful blog post that just might help you if you are trying to communicate with a mute God. It's titled, "7 Actions for the Times God is Silent".

Please read it. Don't despair. God may be temporarily mute. But He's still God.

 

To my Twitter followers: If this post hits you where you live and you would like a partner to pray with you over the next month or so, direct message (DM) the word "pray" to me and I will help take you and your situation to the Throne of grace. My Twitter home is http://www.twitter.com/ServingStrong

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Comments

[Kelli]

I feel like this often. My Sunday School kids and I were discussing the differences of Old Testament vs. New Testament living the other day and how odd/scary/reaffirming it must have been to hear the booming voice from the sky. It would be so lovely to truly hear God's words clearly and to see Him. But by faith, I simply know better than to put my expectations on the Lord.

[Ron Edmondson]

Thanks Scott for linking to this post. I have been there so many times where I couldn't seem to hear from God. Love your post and the imagery of "serving a mute God".

[Jason]

Dude, God's been on radio silence in my life so long the white noise is starting to climb the Billboard Hot 100.

"The world races forward while, it seems, you are sitting still... moving backward... making no difference at all... a waste... a disgrace... a shame..."

This is my life.

[Scott Couchenour]

Kelli - God sure works in mysterious ways, doesn't He? I agree, it would be so great to hear God's words clearly and see Him. I wonder if we could survive it, though...

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[Scott Couchenour]

Thanks Ron, for sharing out of your experience. I'm sure a lot of people need to read what you wrote.

[Scott Couchenour]

Jason - HA! I know what you mean. Good to know He's still God, whether or not we get to experience Him the way WE want to. I guess that's why they call Him God and not you or me.

[Jay Cookingham]

When God is quiet I need to remember that He hasn't left me...He may be silent but He
never leaves me. Thanks Kevin for a great post!

[Scott Couchenour]

Jay - see, THAT'S the main thing. Just because He's silent doesn't mean He's absent. Silence, then, becomes another form of communication He chooses (for our own good).

[Dusty Rayburn]

In Human relationships, we think of awkward silences, but we also enjoy those comfortable silences where it is enough to know we are together and that no words have to be spoken.

God is always there. He is our truest friend. He is concerned for us and cares for us. May my relationship with Him be such that even when He does not speak I am comfortable in the silence knowing He is there.

[Scott Couchenour]

Dusty - very well put. I've had awkward silences with God before. Not fun. I much rather have that trusting comfortable silence of which you comment.

God bless!