Why is God silent?

“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?” (Ps. 13:1).

We all love when God answers prayers quickly. But what about when He is silent?

Silence happens the vast majority of the time in the life of a believer, primarily because we want things now versus waiting; we want to be removed from the fire, not go through it. But God wants us to learn the very important discipline of prevailing in prayer. John Piper rightly said, “God wants to see the lived-out reality of what He knows is in us.” And that often involves waiting.

Silence is the great test of faith. Waiting time is not wasted time because this is when we truly develop our relationship with the Lord. Read the story of Joseph beginning in Genesis 37 and see how he was tested in 3 different ways: 1. The Pit Test (I can’t get out of this), 2. The Potiphar Test (handling false accusations, harassment and lying, 3. The Prison Test (I don’t deserve this). 

Why God may be silent

In a message by Carter Conlon, Staying Strong When God is Silent, he lists many important points as to why God may be silent. He may be silent because:

• He has already spoken and there’s no need to constantly repeat Himself.
• In Daniel’s case, you are in a spiritual battle and you must persevere.
• There is interior resistance — other voices are overshadowing God’s voice.
• Silence gets our attention and wakes us up.

It may be a test: “Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him” (Ps. 105:19). 

Sometimes the problem isn’t that God hasn’t spoken. He has already spoken. We just don’t want to do what He said. When we don’t like the answer, we act like we didn’t hear it. We know the answer; we just don’t like it. Then we keep praying for confirmation about something we already know the answer to. We ask God to show us, give us confirmation, give us a sign. But deep down, we already know what to do.

You’ve got to start there if you want to be led by God. God doesn’t play games. God’s not saying, “let’s make a deal.” He’s saying, “this is the deal.” I’ve been held back before because I didn’t want to listen. Sometimes we want to move ahead in our journey without dealing with what God has already put in front of us. But God says, “No. Go back and deal with that first.”

When we refuse to deal with what God has told us to do, it’s called disobedience. Saul was told to obey God, and he didn’t listen. Samuel told him that God does not accept sacrifice as a substitute for obedience. Rebellion is a sin just as much as witchcraft is a sin.

I don’t want to maximize this and blow you out of the water so that you leave depressed, but I also don’t want to minimize the importance of listening to and obeying that still, small voice.

Again, waiting time is not wasted time. God is shaping, developing, removing, cleaning, rebuilding, reviving, and doing so much more during the silent times. Without the silence, we would never develop spiritual strength. “A sword is formed on an anvil, not on a hammock” (Carter Conlon).

We must prevail in prayer

In the book Mighty Prevailing Prayer, the author wrote, “Prevailing prayer is normally possible only for things in the will of God.” He adds,

“We must prevail in prayer for situations where God’s will is being thwarted and where Satan is delaying and blocking it. Only God knows at which point of time there would be the greatest spiritual returns and the most strategic advantage to His Kingdom from your receiving the answer to your prayer. God’s clock keeps perfect time.”

Prevailing prayer holds on even when everything is falling apart and God seems silent. “Never say ‘impossible’ when you are praying for something in the will of God. God is sovereign over nature and over people … Never rule out an intervening act of God. Never doubt the possibility of a miracle” (Wesley Duewel).

Prevailing prayer is:

• The catalyst to revival.
• The foundation of faith.
• The sustainer of hope. 
• The access to Living Water.
• The wellspring of wisdom.

Prayer that prevails strengthens, replenishes, and nourishes our barren soul. Wait on God, He is never late!