Is God silent? Or are you being presumptuous? Are you actually connected?
One of the most annoying instances is when you need to call someone and you get a weak signal—“The subscriber cannot be reached; please try again later.” or he just won’t pick up. Clearly, God sets the condition on how to reach him. Scripture states that Jesus is the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him.1
God is in constant communication. The Psalter states, Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.2
If you find him silent perhaps you don’t hear, or you are desiring something that is not according to his will, or he is displeased. Speaking through Isaiah the prophet, God said, “Go, and say to this people: “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, and their eyes heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.3 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.4 And without faith it is impossible to please [God], for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exist and that he rewards those who seek him.5
While Jesus was around he constantly taught his disciples. Now, he has left us the Holy Spirit to do likewise. These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.6 Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”7
Notes
1. John 14:6
2. Psalm 73:23-28
3. Isaiah 6:9-10
4. 1 John 5:14-15
5. Hebrews 11:6
6. John 14:25-27
7. Isaiah 35:4
