How To Respond When God Seems Silent

Jan Smith

Sometimes, it seems as though God is silent. Has this happend in your life? You may have been praying diligently, but there seems to be no indication that God is active and involved in your life. Well-wishing friends tell you He always is, but… there’s this… silence. What’s a person supposed to do with that??

I recently saw/heard a great sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley on the subject of God’s silence. I was really blessed by it, and I know others will also find it helpful. Here’s Dr. Stanley’s sermon outline to accompany the audio message.

When God Is Silent

Charles F. Stanley

Scripture: John 11:1-15

I. Introduction: Have you ever felt that God was giving you the “silent treatment”? What is the Lord’s purpose for not immediately answering prayer? How should you respond when God seems distant?

II. Message

A. Examples of God’s Silence

  1. Mary and Martha and their sick brother Lazarus (John 11)
  2. 400 years of silence between the testaments
  3. Silence in heaven (Rev. 8:1)
  4. Dr. Stanley, who needed direction in his senior year of college

B. Why is God sometimes silent?

  1. To get our attention
  2. To make us aware of unconfessed sin
  3. To postpone an answer because we aren’t ready to listen
  4. To teach us trust in Him (Hebrews 13:5 shows that even if we can’t see God working, He is with us.)
  5. To help us distinguish between His voice and other voices (e.g., in the Holy Land, Dr. Stanley saw sheep who knew their shepherd’s voice.)
  6. To encourage perseverance until we experience a breakthrough
  7. To teach us the practice of sitting quietly in His presence

C. How do we respond to God’s silence?

  1. Disappointment
  2. Discouragement
  3. Confusion
  4. Doubt (e.g., Dr. Stanley’s doctor didn’t believe in God but cried out in desperation for help.)
  5. Guilt (Some people fear they have sinned.)
  6. Anger
  7. Fear (Some Christians feel deserted by God or worry that they have lost their salvation.)

D. How should we respond to God’s silence?

  1. Ask the Lord why. Jesus questioned the Father (Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34).
  2. Remember that God’s silence doesn’t mean He’s inactive.
  3. Trust Him. In His silence, He works for good in your life (Ps. 46:10; 138:8).
  4. Anticipate a more intimate relationship with Him.
  5. Respect God’s right to be silent. Deliberately set aside time to be quiet before Him.
  6. Read the Bible, and tell the Lord you are available to listen.
  7. Keep praying. Eventually, you will have a breakthrough.

III. Closing: Through times of silence, God impresses on us the truth about sin, develops our trust in Him, and guides us to maturity. When the Father seems distant, faithfully seek Him and watch for His provision.

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