God Speaking

“Be still and know that I am God.”

(Psalm 46: 10)

The phrase, silence is golden has been around for ages and many artists have written songs about it. It is fascinating to revisit all these incarnations of the phrase and see that they differ as to what the meaning of silence really is. I had an interesting discussion with one of my sons-in-law about this, as he had just completed two very long car rides where silence prevailed. He particularly thought about our spiritual lives when we sometimes begin to think that God is silent. When we are upset that he hasn’t heard our anxious prayer we having been sending to him. We feel that he is not answering us. 

Our lives can become very stressed by our activities, every minute is filled, there is no time to stop, no respite to rest and be quiet. The world shouts at us, urging us to do more, to keep up with others, this is when the Lord wants us to come into his presence and be still and rest. 

“In repentance and rest is your salvation in quietness and trust is your strength.” (Isaiah 30: 15)

We need to remember to be still and silent when we want to hear the Lord answering us. It is not for us to tell God how we want the answers but learning to listen to that still small voice. Sometimes we must wait for an answer as the time is not right for the problem to be fixed. There are many verses about being patient and to wait upon the Lord, surprisingly this can be a blessed time. 

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word, I put my hope.” (Psalm 130: 5)

I love the story of Elijah, he was an amazing prophet, but he was human and just like us he became depressed after he performed an amazing miracle. He ran for his life, knowing he may be killed, he hid in a cave thinking he was the only one left who believed in God. God finds him and tells him he is going to meet with him. Elijah waits, but initially all he hears is a powerful wind destroying mountains, then a massive earthquake, then a raging fire, but still no God, then Elijah hears a gentle whisper, at last he meets God. (1 Kings 19: 9 – 12) 

There needed to be silence for Elijah to hear that whisper. That is why we need to be silent in front of the Lord so we can hear that whisper. My son-in-law told me of a lovely thought that entered his mind during those long bouts of silence and this is what came to him.

In the silence, we learn to rest in His character, not just His answers.

Silence can be golden when we learn to listen to that gentle whisper.