Oftentimes when you hear about God in the way that He speaks, you hear about His responses. When He told Moses to lead the children of Egypt (Exodus 3:10) and displayed a series of signs and wonders illustrating His magnificent power and provision (Exodus: chapters 4 & 6) are just two examples. However, in the absence of His words, I have found that His power is still there.
In my experience, the situation that pops into my head when I think of God’s silence is my last dating relationship. During this time, I was what some might call a lukewarm Christian, only exhibiting my faith in extreme trials and neglecting to work on my salvation day to day. However, I did know God’s voice and the peace that came with it. I just chose when and when not to obey. I met this boy on Tinder during the summer of 2019, and we proceeded to become friends with benefits. Now, God’s word is clear when it says to flee from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18). And though at the time, I couldn’t reference this verse, I felt the conviction every time I partook in the act, as His law is written on our hearts (Romans 2:14-15). It wasn’t until sin started to affect me in a way I didn’t understand that I asked God, “Is he the one for me?”
Of course, my Heavenly Father said “No”, but I was confused because that was the first time I felt that God was taking a “good thing” away from me. Until this point in my faith life, God’s protection and provision came in the form of as health, money, and food, which is all true but that isn’t all it includes. I disobeyed Him and continued this relationship with this boy for three and a half years. The relationship consisted of a bunch of breakups and makeups because I would believe God and obey, then go back and mend the relationship out of insecurity and fear of being alone. In January 2022, year 3, whenever I would ask God, “Show me a sign, Lord,” He wouldn’t answer. It went on like this for 6 months whenever I would bring up this relationship in prayer. Until I watched a sermon about Abraham when the Lord told him to go sacrifice Issac.
In Genesis 22, the beginning of the chapter is labeled, “Abraham’s Faith is Tested,” which is what we will expound on in the remainder of this reading. One thing the pastor highlighted during the sermon is that God spoke to Abraham to give the instructions (Genesis 22:1-2), then didn’t speak again until he was about to complete it (Genesis 22:11-12). At that moment, He said, “You seek to please me, but you have no faith that I am a good God and give you good things”, and at that moment I realized that He was not ignoring me.
He was waiting for me to have the faith to obey because without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
I believe God, the Holy Spirit, made the conviction in my heart so heavy that 6 months later, I finally ended this relationship with complete faith that God did have this – now man for me.
Though the silence may be frustrating, I encourage you to stop and go back to the last thing God told you to do. “It is not only in things that someone does but also in things they don’t do that we see their character” – Pastor Stephen, UNION Church. And it’s not that God won’t repeat himself, because the Bible is evidence that He does. It’s that it requires faith to live a believer’s life (2 Corinthians 5:7).
