Experiencing God’s Silence

One word from God can change your life forever. But, let’s face it, sometimes we feel that God is silent. Remember Joseph, in the book of Genesis? God seemed silent when Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Later, Joseph was placed in jail after his boss’s wife lied and falsely accused him. As if that wasn’t bad enough, another person who promised to be Joseph’s advocate forgot about him. Where was God? Why didn’t God intervene? Why did God seem so silent in response to Joseph’s pleas?

In retrospect, was God silent? Or, was God silently at work below the surface of Joseph’s life? Did God choose to ignore Joseph’s initial discomforts in order to prepare him for a much greater future? Today we can read the ending of Joseph’s story and clearly discern that during Joseph’s season of silence, God was actually preparing him to become second in command of the entire Egyptian Empire to spare his own family from starvation. But Joseph did not know that at the time. Instead, he had to learn to live in faith and expectancy during the dark times.

When God seems silent, He is building a foundation deep within our lives to prepare us for our future. When it is difficult to hear God’s voice, don’t give up. Press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of you (Philippians 3:12). Jesus has taken hold of you and has some amazing things planned for your future. Let’s embrace Him who is silently at work preparing us for what is ahead.