Silent Seasons

​Sometimes God seems silent.
Frustration can set in when we have prayed to the Father and heaven seems to be out to lunch.
I have been there, done that, and have the T-shirt. You probably have a frustration T-shirt too.
So, what are you and I to do? Let us look to God’s Word, the Holy Bible, to see what happened to some righteous folks who struggled with Jesus’ silence.
The Silent Setting      
I encourage you to personally study and meditate on John 11:1-46.
When Jesus traveled to Bethany, He stayed with Lazarus, Martha and Mary. He loved them and they loved Him. (Verses 1-5)
Jesus was away when Lazarus fell seriously ill. The sisters sent for Jesus to come right away.  The Lord replied through a messenger the illness was not unto death, but for the glory of God and His Son. (Verses 4-10). Jesus traveled to Judea for ministry for two days. (Verses 9-10).
 Silence from Jesus.
The sisters were very concerned that Jesus did not answer their request immediately. They believed Jesus had power to heal Lazarus. They yearned to hear from Him that He would come. Eventually He did. Upon His arrival four days later, they both declared “If you had been here, our brother would not have died” (Verses 21 and 32). Their broken hearts were grieving because their beloved brother lie dead in a tomb and Jesus had not come to raise him up from the sick bed.
Jesus did the following: He assured them Lazarus’s death was not final. He wept with the sisters and crowd. He taught about resurrection life and belief in Him as the Savior. Then He calmly, confidently and powerfully called Lazarus forth from the grave!!! Lazarus’s grave clothes were removed. Brother Lazarus was fully alive and reunited with Martha and Mary. (Verses 11-46).
MIRACLE OF MIRACLES!!! Lazarus was raised from the dead! People were astonished. Many believed in Jesus, and of course, some doubted Him.
LESSON FOR YOU AND ME: God’s silence does not mean He is not answering our prayers.
Whether a silent season is short or long, Jesus hears and answers our prayers (Matthew 7:7-8). He responds on His terms and time, not ours. His time is the right time. The Lord’s timing is always the right on time. His timing is always better than yours or mine. Why? Because He is God and we are not!!!
In his devotional, My Utmost For His Highest, for October 11th, Oswald Chambers comments about God’s silence.
“If God has given you a silence, praise Him. He is bringing you into the great run of His promises. The manifestation of the answer in time is a matter of God’s sovereignty. Time is nothing to God. Timing is.”
“If Jesus Christ is bringing you into the understanding that prayer is for glorifying of the Father, He will give you the first sign of HIs intimacy—silence.”
“Can God trust you like that, or are you still asking for a visible answer? God will give you the blessings you ask if you will not go any further without them; but His silence is the sign that He is bringing you into a marvelous understanding of Himself.”
Mr. Chambers thoughts are worth thinking about and applying to our silent situations.
What Not To Do During Silent Seasons

• Refuse to push the panic button. Panic opens the door of doubt.
• Renounce worry and wondering if you asked for the right thing.
• Resist the temptation to question your faith. Keep your belief simple and strong.
• Reject advice from people who do not manage silent seasons well.
• Let me say it again. Do not focus on feelings when heaven seems out to lunch. Keep focused on the Word of God.

What To Do During Silent Seasons.

• Remember how God answered previous silent seasons.
• Rejoice that God is at work on your behalf. Jesus always answer prayer.
• Be still. Quiet. Rest in the Lord. Trust God that He knows what He is doing.
• Praise and thank God for the good answers to your prayers that are on the way.
• While you wait for the answer to your prayer happily do the will of God before you.

Lazarus, Martha and Mary experienced a miracle! A glorious resurrection of a brother and assurance for two sisters that Jesus’ silence was purposeful. Jesus was right on time when He raised Lazarus from the dead!
The next time God seems silent, keep silent and still. While you wait for His response, try not to wiggle. Trust Jesus for His best for your life. He is answering your prayer!
Silence is golden when God is answering prayer.
“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
A Word For Your Week: Trust God for the silent seasons.