When God Is Silent

The most difficult time of my life is when God is silent about what is going on.  We all have times of struggle when we don't understand what is going on with our families, health or job situation. Why do people not understand what is going on with me?  Why do other people seem to breeze through life while my life is filled with anxiety, pain and suffering?

Like Job's three friends, everyone seems to know what I'm doing or not doing that God would be so silent.  We seem to forget that it was God who said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job?"

Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

 To many, it is unthinkable that God would suggest such a thing.  God said that Job was perfect and an upright man that feared God and turned from all evil.

Job was all alone in his struggle.  Even his wife was unsupportive.  She told him to just curse God and die.

Job 2:9-10 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Well-meaning people try to offer "one-liner" encouragements, which is of course their attempt to help you through your struggles.  However, unless you yourself have lost a child through a tragic accident or a terminally ill disease, or lost a job it's difficult to really offer a word of encouragement.  Not that we shouldn't try, but it might be more honest to say something like "I can't imagine what you are going through or how you must feel, but I know it's got to hurt.  I will pray that God will shower you in His love and comfort."

How can we personally deal with the pain of silence and discouragement?  Here are a few suggestions:

1. Tell God how you really feel.  He already knows and can handle whatever you throw at Him.  It can be emotionally deadly to ignore what's going on, or lie about it.  Even Christ was troubled and told His heavenly Father that He didn't want to have to go through the cup of suffering He was facing.
2. Meditate frequently on the Word of God.  God's Word will bring into focus a clear picture of your struggle.  His Word allows you to accurately judge between His will for your life verses personal feelings and attitudes.  Some helpful passages include Ps. 3:2-4; 16:7-8; 55:22; 63:6-9; 77:12;119:15.
3. Take your area of suffering to God in prayer.  Ask Him to reveal what He wants to teach you in this area of your life.  Be prepared though for His answer for it may not be what you want to hear.
4. Focus on God, not your situation.  Ask Him to help you see the situation and its lessons from His perspective.
5. Understand that everything that comes to you passes through His loving hands first.

Confess these three truths aloud: 

1.  The Father is with me in this struggle. 

2.  He's in control of my life and has allowed this for a reason. 

3.  He is a good God, who will turn this pain into a blessing to me and those around me.

Emotional pain and discouragement may seem harmless, but don't underestimate its destructive power.  By keeping watch, you can avoid the deadly trap of not believing that God is in the details of your life and that He has a purpose for it all.  He will see you through it all.

Psa 34:17-19  The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Wait on the Lord.  Give Him time. 

 Psalm 27:14  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.