It has been seven years since I first began bringing my request to God. So far, no direct answer. Only silence.
Isaiah reminds us how God sometimes answers in the silence. “Truly you are a God who hides himself” (Isaiah 45:15 NASB).
It is in the silence that God hides. Speaking no reassurances. Giving no direction. Just hiding. Is God perhaps testing us to see how strong our faith can be? How far our faith muscles will stretch before we break?
Between the Old and New Testament was a lengthy time of silence, estimated at 400 years from when the last prophet spoke to when God himself showed up as a baby in a manger.
Even within that silence, events were being orchestrated: from the Babylonian captivity of Israel’s great grands to the Diaspora exile to the establishment of Jewish political and social power — the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes.
Yet the one Voice that true believers wanted to hear was silent. Until the appointed time. Until everything was in place for the sweet yet bold voice to declare to a virgin, “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus” (Luke 1:31 NASB).
A sadder silence occurred after the death of Jesus. Imagine how frightening and despairing that silent Saturday became to that small handful of Jesus followers? Their champion was dead. Rome still ruled, and they could not fathom the final words of Jesus that he would rise again.
How could they find comfort within such a heavy silence after the bloody murder of their leader? Doubts. Fear. Struggle. Silence.
Yet within another sunrise, the answer appeared in glorious power. Resurrection followed the silence and felt more blessed because of the despair. The same emotions we feel when blessing follows the battle.
For us Jesus followers in this 21st century, we must draw on our reserves and trust God when silence answers. We must realize that a new arising will indeed come. It may not be the next day or the next or the next. It may not look like what we hoped for.
We may have to join with the believers recorded in Hebrews 11:39 who did not receive what was promised in their lifetimes. They had to wait for eternity and close their eyes within the silence of death. Yet scripture says they were commended for their faith.
So that is what we must do within our silence. Pray for God’s sustaining faith. Keep believing. Remember that God knows all the ins and outs of life. Live in the hope of the Psalmist who challenges us to stay in hope.
We are sustained as we live in the silence. The answer is always to trust in the God who sustains us.
©2026 RJ Thesman – All Rights Reserved
Image Attribution: ANTHR-Photoblog / Pixabay
Read more about being sustained within the silence on page 23 of Sustain Us, Oh Lord: Finding Strength When Life is Hard.