When God is Silent

I have heard many times in the past how God answers prayers in three ways—a Yes, a No or a Wait.

If the answer is Yes, we are happy. If he answers Wait, we are hopeful. If he answers No, we are sad, angry, frustrated, etc etc.

But what’s more frustrating is when God remains silent. No matter how much you pray or try to discern what it is that He wants, there isn’t any sign or any indication at all as to what He is planning or what He wants you to feel or do or say. You feel left in the dark, so to speak.

What’s even MORE frustrating is when you start to shift the blame on yourself, thinking that God must be speaking but you just aren’t listening, and the guilt makes you feel worse. You’d think, how can anyone blame God?

So then what do you do whenever God seems to be silent? Pray? Quiet time? Read the bible? Rant to your Christian friends? Read self-help Christian books and articles?

Perhaps, cry?

When emotions become tumultuous and your carefully constructed protective walls come undone, there’s no way to go but down on your knees. Or prone on your bed. Or head on your table. Or hands on your face. Or whatever position you’re comfortable with.

To cry.

It is only after your head clears and your heart calms down that you begin to feel okay enough to actually talk to God about what’s happening or do something about what you’re feeling. It’s usually not a one-time big-time thing. Sometimes this cycle needs to happen more than once before the light breaks through and permeates the darkness you are in. And when it finally does, peace will come. Perhaps like a trickle of clean spring water. Or perhaps like a wave in the ocean. But it will come.

Until then, don’t be afraid to cry. Don’t be afraid to hurl all your emotions at God. Don’t be afraid to complain and ask Him to reveal Himself and talk to you and make things clear and simple. Don’t be afraid to ask Him to help you hear and understand. Because God listens. He always has and He always will.

His silence was never meant to break you. It was meant to bring you closer to Him, as a Father loves His child. Perhaps, these may be but empty words to you. For now.

But keep on seeking Him. Keep on praying. Keep on crying out to Him.

For the sun will always come out after a storm. Always.