THE SILENT TREATMENT

There’s a time period that exists in every true believer’s life that feels like sudden death. This is a time that although life continues, its lived from a lifeless place. During this time uncertainty, confusion, insecurity and discouragement are constant and overwhelming feelings. Have I peeked your spiritual curiosity yet? Well good! The period I’m describing is the time when God is SILENT. In the Bible there was a period of four-hundred years, between Malachi and Matthew, when God said NOTHING. That’s a long time you guys! Now I haven’t experienced that length of silence but God has definitely given me the silent treatment. As a matter of fact, it was during one of the hardest trials of my life. To know God heard me but CHOSE not to respond shook my world! The voice I had learned to depend on for guidance, revelation and comfort was gone. It was like gasping for air, but none was available. I felt like Jesus when he said in Matthew 27:46 "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which is Hebrew for “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?” There was no answer…just SILENCE. I would get on my knees to pray and wait for God to speak, but instead…SILENCE. A number of questions flooded my head like, “What did I do?” “Have I offended You?” “Why are you mad at me?” “Where You at?!” This last question was asked with MAJOR attitude, but still…SILENCE. After a while I was like, “I ain’t askin’ Him nothing else!” God wasn’t moved by my tantrum; and still…all I heard…was SILENCE. Silence can make a resounding noise; in fact, it’s deafening! So, the longer God was silent, the louder the silence became. Does any of this sound familiar? If so, LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU!

God’s silent treatment is only for a season and it is necessary to circumcise your hearing. When a person is cut off from what they’ve always had, there’s a greater level of appreciation for it once it’s returned. Not only is there a greater appreciation but it’s authenticity cannot be mistaken. Let me encourage you some more!! John Chapter 10 verses 4-5 talks about God’s sheep knowing His voice and a stranger’s voice they won’t follow. We live in a time where everything and everybody is talking. Television, magazines, radio, billboards and social media are just some of the things that compete to shape our views and opinions. So it’s necessary to hear the authentic voice of God to know His thoughts and His views.

Now, back to my silent treatment experience. After I got out of my feelings, I realized there was nothing else for God to say. Truth is, the last thing He said to me before He went silent was, “I GOT THIS”; and yes…He had it! I didn’t need anything else. My emotions wanted something else but like I said earlier, God isn’t moved by those. He hadn’t left me! He hadn’t forsaken me! My sense of hearing was being sharpened; and once He started to speak again, I heard Him loud and clear. So be encouraged today! God might be silent right now but one thing is for sure, He WILL speak again. But until then, embrace the sound of silence. There’s purpose in it!