We all go through times while on the journey where the road is silent.
Other times our prayer life is full of answers and confirmations from God. Dare I even say that within those silent miles upon the road, I would much rather hear a “No” from God. By that I mean, my prayers of petition don’t always get answered the way I think that they should be answered. Thus, in those times of deep silence, when all I want to hear is a word from God, I would even take the answer “no” than nothing at all.
Have you been to that place?
Please tell me that I’m not the only one who has experienced these times.
And within those moments, thoughts run through my head.
Thoughts like, “Is it me?” “Is my faith too small?” or, “What did I do to deserve this silence God?” And then even sillier thoughts fill my mind. Thoughts like, “God are you off doing something else, or solving somebody else’s problems?” When all along I know God is present with me, He’s just not saying anything to me at that specific moment.
I equate it to my marriage.
My wife and I will have been married this year for 20 years (in the world around us, that’s like paleolithic ages for marriages). I love my wife very deeply, and I know that she loves me the same way…and yes, we finish each other’s sandwiches. (We’ve watched Frozen WAY too many times)
Long story short, we talk a lot. We share each others hopes, dream, aspirations and the hopes and dreams for our children. We journey alongside each other through the good days and the not so good days. That’s what marriage is, that’s what deep relational friendship demands. We are there for each other.
Jesus and the Marriage:
Jesus used this illustration of the Bride and Bridegroom in the bible. He told of the virgins who waited for the bridegroom to arrive…some were wise and some were foolish. Later on in the Bible, Paul uses this same topic of the bide and bridegroom to illustrated how husbands are to care for their wives to the point of laying down their lives for them, just as Christ did for us. The bible is full of wedding illustrations and the necessity to not only love each other deeply, but to anticipate and long for Christ’s return.
Back to my Marriage:
There are times when we talk a lot…but there are also times when we enjoy each other’s company in silence. Nothing more needs to be said…because we know each other deeply, and we, at times, know what we are thinking.
That’s how I like to view those silent times with our Father in Heaven.
We are still very much in His presence, but no words are needed. He knows our thoughts, and our hearts…and so He simply journeys alongside us.
It is in these sacred moments of silence that I feel we begin to know and feel the very heart of God. No words can describe it. No ceremony can contain it. We simply join together in His presence. There is no greater joy than this. Nothing more holy.
So the next time you freak out when God doesn’t speak…just be silent.
The next time you fear He isn’t listening…pray for discernment to know He is journeying right next to you. We don’t always need words, or to hear Him speak. We walk in faith, knowing the Creator of the Universe journeys right beside you. Revel in His presence. Embrace His holiness. Recognize that sometimes even in the silence, God is saying “Hello, It’s me, I’m still here…and I will never leave you or forsake you!”
-Amen and amen.
Pastor's Ponderings 
Amen & Amen