God’s silence can be one of the most difficult and disorienting experiences in the life of a believer or what we can call ‘The Hiddeness of God’.
You pray, you seek, but you are met with what feels like a wall of silence. In these moments, it’s crucial to remember that silence does not mean absence.
Some of the most faithful saints in the Bible, like David and Job, cried out during seasons when God seemed distant. Psalm 22:2 expresses this perfectly: “My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.” Your feelings are valid, and you are in good company.
The first step is to trust in God’s nature, even when you cannot hear His voice.
During a season of silence, resist the urge to panic or assume you have done something wrong. Instead, use this time to practice active waiting.
Review His past faithfulness in your life and in the Scriptures.
Lamentations 3:25-26 encourages us, “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” This is a time to demonstrate faith to believe that He is good and working even when you see no evidence and hear no word. Continue in obedience to the last thing He told you, and remain faithful in prayer, worship, and reading His Word, not to manipulate a response, but to posture your heart to receive it when it comes.
Finally, see the silence as an invitation to a deeper level of trust.
It is an opportunity to love God for who He is, not just for the blessings He gives or the answers He provides. This is where your faith becomes your own, untethered from feelings or constant spiritual highs. Remember the words of Job, who, after immense suffering and silence, declared, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15).
Keep in mind, God is often doing His most profound work in the quiet. He is building in you a faith that endures, a hope that is unseen, and a character that reflects Christ.
