New Identity Magazine

God in focus. World in scope.

  • About
  • Grow
    • Spotlight: In Perspective
    • Growth & Maturity
    • Foundation
    • Practical Application
    • Jargon
  • Connect
    • Community
    • Discovering God
    • God Talk
    • Life Together
  • Live
    • Give Back
    • People
    • Culture & Creativity
    • Careers & Callings
  • Back Issues
  • Write
    • Submit an Article
    • Writer’s Guidelines
    • House Style Guide
    • Content Submissions Agreement
    • Jargon Substitutions
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Contact

WHY IS GOD SILENT SOMTIMES?

By Delbert Teachout Leave a Comment

Why is God silent when we pray? In the Bible we find God speaking with multitudes of people. Starting in Genesis we read about God talking with Adam. In Revelation, we read about God talking to John. Throughout the entire Bible we can read about God speaking to people. Were those events restricted to the Bible, or does God still talk to people? If he does still speak, why does he seem to be silent when we need him? Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” God has invited us to call to him, anytime, for any reason, and he will answer us. Since God wants us to call on him, why would he remain silent? Let’s see what scripture says about this.

Are we listening to God?

Sheep learn to recognize their shepherd’s voice and follow only their shepherd. In basic training, soldiers, sailors and pilots learn to recognize the voice of their training instructor and follow only that voice. As Christians we need to recognize God’s voice. In 1 Kings 19: 9-12 the word of the Lord came to Elijah. First Elijah saw a whirlwind, and then he experienced an earthquake, next he saw a fire. “And after the fire came a gentle whisper” (verse 12). God did not speak through the wind, earthquake, or fire. God spoke in a gentle whisper.

Sometimes God’s silence can be a sign of his presence. When he is silent we become so hungry for him we seek him in such a way our relationship with him has been strengthened.

For more than fifty years I have been a Christian and have never heard an audible voice from God. When he speaks to me he speaks a whisper in my heart. Some may call it a “gut feeling.” To me it’s God speaking. He does not speak to my ears or my mind. When something is in my mind I know it is me thinking, but when it is in my heart I know that it is God speaking. If I am not careful, I miss him. So the first thing we need to do if we are to hear from God is recognize his voice. If we have unconfessed sin, God may be shouting at us to get our attention. We need to listen for him.

What are some barriers that keep us from hearing God?

We need to be able to discern God’s will. I John 5:14-15 tells us, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we ask of him.”

How can we know God’s will when we are new Christians? We can read the Bible. The Bible says it is God’s will that everyone believes in Jesus, that we tell others about him, that we love other people, that we do not neglect gathering with other Christians, that we have no other gods before him, that we seek first the kingdom of heaven, and many other examples. I have heard people when they pray say something like, “If this is your will, let it happen.” We need to learn to pray for and accept his will.

Jesus said his new commandment is to love God with all our hearts and love others as ourselves (Mark 12: 30-31). Failure to do so may hinder our prayers. Matthew 7:11-12 says “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” Why would God give us anything if we are cruel or unkind, negligent or unconcerned about others? We need to treat everyone we meet the same way Jesus would.

Another thing that may cause God to be silent is our lack of faith. Matthew 13:58 says, “And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” I know from personal experience that God will allow circumstances to continue until we learn to have faith in him. That lesson was painful and I have not forgotten it. I know my faith is not perfect, but I believe without any doubt that God will take care of me.

Does God choose to be silent sometimes?

A humorous commercial I’ve seen shows a young lady calling her boyfriend to tell him she is giving him the silent treatment. Does God ever give us the silent treatment? Isaiah 59:2 says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God.” 1 Peter 3:12 says, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Were Peter and Isaiah saying that sometimes God refuses to listen because of our sin? Possibly. Or perhaps, God wants us to wait, because patience is a virtue that strengthens our love for the Lord (2 Peter 1:6).
Sometimes God’s silence can be a sign of his presence. When he is silent we become so hungry for him we seek him in such a way that our relationship with him is strengthened. I remember stressful events when I thought God was silent. I pleaded with him to show me what I did wrong, or what I failed to do. I begged him to finish teaching me so I could receive my answer. Those experiences taught me to trust him without a doubt. God did not even speak to Jesus from Gethsemane to the cross. If he was silent to Jesus, we can expect him to be silent to us.

What should we do when God is silent?

What do we do if we have learned to recognize his voice, forgiven others, confessed our sins, are trying to walk according to God’s will, are treating everyone as we want them to treat us, and believe with all our hearts he will answer our prayer, but he is still silent? Daniel chapter nine tells about Daniel praying, but the messenger who was bringing him his answer was delayed for twenty-one days. Sometimes our answer is on its way but we need to wait for it. The book of Job (pronounced J-oh-b) is a story of a man who went through tremendous calamities yet he remained faithful to God. We need to continue to have faith because we have God’s promise that he will never leave us.

Something I was taught many years ago is that God has three answers to prayer: yes, no, and wait awhile. We need to be attentive to listen to God; he speaks in different places and in different ways. He speaks to me when I pray, read my Bible, attend a worship service, drive my car, take a shower, or any place he chooses. He speaks through prayer, worship, a pastor, or another person. He sometimes prevents some things from happening and allows other things to happen, called closing and opening doors. Sometimes when we think God is silent he is opening or closing doors, maybe he is speaking through a spouse or friend, our pastor, or maybe the answer has not arrived yet.

How many times should we ask for something? I have heard people say if we ask for something more than once we show a lack of faith. Jesus said to keep on seeking, keep on knocking, and keep on asking until we have our answer (Matthew 7:7). Sometimes we have to accept no as an answer, sometimes we have to wait for our answer. We must always remember, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight,” (Prov. 3: 5–6).

We have seen some reasons why God might be silent and some reasons why it may seem as though he is silent. For more information on this topic we can read books like: When God is Silent by Charles Swindoll, When Prayers Are Not Answered: Finding Peace When God Seems Silent by Elizabeth Rockwood, Silent God by Joseph Bentz, When God is Silent by Barbara Brown Taylor or Why is God Ignoring Me? by Gary Habermas.

Many say that a formula for prayer is a helpful tool in overcoming the barriers to hearing God. One formula is called the ACTS method: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (requests). When we pray with adoration, confession, and thanksgiving, we prepare our hearts to receive what God is saying about our supplications. Instead of telling him the answer we want, we need to be listening to hear the answer he is giving. However, if our request is wrong, he will deny us; and if our life is wrong, he will discipline us. He is waiting for us to call to him so he can show us, even in his silence, great and unsearchable things we never knew.

Photo Credit: Mait Juriado | Flickr (Creative Commons)

SaveSave

Share with friendsShare on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Reddit
Reddit
Email to someone
email

Filed Under: Grow, Growth & Maturity Tagged With: Issue 15

Related Posts

  • FILTERING THE FICTIONFILTERING THE FICTION
  • CONSERVING CREATIONCONSERVING CREATION
  • THE DRAW OF THE SURF AND THE LOVE OF THE SAVIORTHE DRAW OF THE SURF AND THE LOVE OF THE SAVIOR
  • WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT CHRISTIANITY?WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT CHRISTIANITY?
  • HOW TO KEEP THE ROMANCE ALIVEHOW TO KEEP THE ROMANCE ALIVE
  • MURDER IN THE HEARTMURDER IN THE HEART

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Current Issue

Current Issue

Read Now

newidentitymag

New Identity | Exploring Faith
We hope you enjoy the new issue! Check out the lin We hope you enjoy the new issue! Check out the link in our bio! Happy Fall/Winter! 🍁
We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on this topic, please leave us a comment! ✨
We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on this topic, please leave us a comment! ✨
How should we be using our money? - We're looking How should we be using our money? - We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on this topic, please leave us a comment!
We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on this topic, please leave us a comment!
We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on the topic of praying continually and what that can look like in our fast-paced society, please leave us a comment! 😊
We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on this topic, please leave us a comment! ✨
Happy Spring! Enjoy the new issue! #linkinbio Happy Spring! Enjoy the new issue! #linkinbio
Our striving to be like Jesus or do his work on ou Our striving to be like Jesus or do his work on our own is in vain. We can never hope to achieve the same level that Jesus was on while we are still here on Earth. We’re like little kids, struggling just to walk. But that’s why Jesus gave us an example of redeemed followers in the form of the Apostles, who were his close group of students here on Earth. He chose a group of broken, sinful men, and ultimately shaped them into the group responsible for continuing his ministry here on Earth. ⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Tim VanDeWalker in "Running By Example" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's th "Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." –Desmond Tutu
The Bible tells us to live in the world, but not t The Bible tells us to live in the world, but not to become like it. The New Living Translation puts it this way, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Rom. 12:2a). Some have interpreted this as an instruction to reject anything that isn’t explicitly Christian. But I don’t think that’s what this verse is getting at. I think it means much more.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Lindsey Beharry in "Choosing Wisely" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
If you desire to serve, seek to form groups withou If you desire to serve, seek to form groups without age distinction. Maybe you want to form a group in your church. Avoid just inviting members from your age group. Seek out people older and younger than you to invite to meet together. Find that person who sits alone and talk to her or him. Instead of a focus on building groups that have the same characteristics to “relate” with one another, you center your discussion in the work of Christ. He will bring the group together. ⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Russell Almand in "Community and Age Diversity" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"If we put our faith in temporal things, they will "If we put our faith in temporal things, they will inevitably let us down. They were never meant to be enough for us. Not alone. When Barnum finally does hit bottom, he recognizes that his heart has been led astray, fooled into thinking that fame or fortune could satisfy him."⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @slimkeman in "The Greatest Showman" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"Porn. We are only now beginning to realize the ex "Porn. We are only now beginning to realize the extent of its effects on the brain, relationships, and society at a time when sexually explicit content is just a click away. Christians have recognized pornography’s negative impact for decades, yet it is still often considered a “male” problem within the Church. This can leave women who struggle with porn addiction feeling isolated and alone. The organization SheRecovery (formerly Dirty Girls Ministries) aims to change that and has become a resource for women with porn addiction. You can read more about their ministry at the link in our bio. ⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Lisa Gagnon in "Dirty Girls Ministries" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"The presence of my sin reminds me of my great nee "The presence of my sin reminds me of my great need for grace, and good works are the outpouring of a grateful heart; being a good child is not a means of earning the favor of God."⁠
⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Sally Blotzer in "Forgiving Failure" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"As Christians, we identify ourselves not only by "As Christians, we identify ourselves not only by how we handle our daily lives, much like those around us, but also by an added component: our faith. How we pray and worship and spend time with our fellow followers provides additional meaning to our lives."⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Matthew Hamilton in "Does Your Form Determine Your Function?" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
📷: Photo by Lum3n from Pexels⁠
Often I picture Jesus telling us to love others an Often I picture Jesus telling us to love others and not to judge. I forget that when he said, “Come follow me,” he wasn’t just inviting us to a strict set of rules but to a real and exciting life whether you turn out to be a pastor, a doctor, designer or simply “Dad.” Sometimes I forget one of his main messages was that he came to give us a better life than we could ever dream of—life to the fullest. Jesus wasn’t locking us down to a vocation or job title. It’s as if he was saying, “Real, vibrant life is available to you now. Following me, loving me and living like me is your real calling…the rest is just there to aid you in following, loving and living.”⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Wendy Van Eyck in "Living For A Purpose" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
Like Morpheus, I want to “show you how deep the Like Morpheus, I want to “show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.” There is yet another parallel between the Christian story and The Matrix, simultaneously the most foundational and the most captivating. It’s that something which is missing, something which is not quite right with the world. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you know that it’s there. At the outset of the first film, Neo is searching for it. Trinity asserts that “it’s the question that drives us.” Morpheus claims that “you can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes.” The question is: What if I’ve only ever scratched the surface of all that life has to offer? What if there is a deeper, truer current of reality, ever-present behind all of my life’s experiences, to which I might awaken at any moment?⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @slimkeman in "Tumbling Down The Rabbit Hole" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"I’ve always been intrigued by Augustine because "I’ve always been intrigued by Augustine because we all struggle with temptations to sin. And we all struggle to live in a way that honors God. Like Augustine we all feel the tug of our past sins that say, 'Don’t you want to enjoy us?' And Augustine’s story relates to Galatians 5:16-26 where Paul tells us about how the Christian life is like a walk. In a way, walking is a metaphor for the Christian life." ⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @the_christopherscott in "In Step With the Spirit" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"The Holy Spirit empowers us for Christ-like livin "The Holy Spirit empowers us for Christ-like living, and for serving others." Where in your life or in what ways has the Spirit enabled you this week? We'd love to hear, tell us in the comments below!⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @the_christopherscott  in "In Step With the Spirit" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Subscribe

More Articles

DISCIPLINE & THE BIBLE

In a poll taken on ChristiNet.com, the largest Christian portal, 85% of those believed it was in their rights to spank their children. Most quoted the “spare the … [Read More...]

CAN HOBBIES BE A SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE?

I used to work for a guy known for saying, “I’ll rest when I’m dead!” He ran a ministry and believed there were too many people who needed to hear about Jesus to … [Read More...]

CONSTANT GRATITUDE

Lorrie Noel found out she had a brain tumor in August 2011. After more testing, she learned it was cancerous. Though the cancer had nestled into an inoperable place … [Read More...]

Copyright © 2022 New Identity Magazine. All Rights Reserved · Log in