"Is there any Word?"

“Is there any Word?”

I cry and, God appears to be silent!  I turn my ear to Heaven and there is no reply, at least none that is apparent. I pray to understand and hear only more silence.  Friends who I know love me assure me that "God has a plan. His ways are higher than our ways." I know the words are true, but they are like scraping sandpaper rubbed on raw skin! I long for a word from Heaven, the Spirit's comfort. It is not an intellectual explanation I seek. I long for Abba’s embrace. My faith in God is not in jeopardy.  I know Him well and trust Him.  It is His silence that is hard to bear.  

Ever been there, Christian?  St. John of the Cross called such a time the "dark night of the soul."  The tempter has tried his best in the last few days to make me feel that I have caused God's silence. He lies persuasively, “This is of your own doing. You brought this on yourself.”  Shall I now, after preaching His marvelous grace, become a believer in karma? Shall I add guilt to sorrow?  By the Spirit’s witness, I shall not. David sings of a similar response to God's silence so I know I am not alone in the temptation. "I will praise you with songs. I will be careful to live a blameless life- when will you come to help me?" (Psalm 101:1-2, NLT)  Plaintively, he cries, “I don’t deserve this!”  In a much more desperate tone, we listen to him sing: "Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food." (Psalm 102:1-4, NIV)  

What then can I do during this dark night?  

First is to continue in what He has said to me in the past and in His Word. 
His present silence does not mean that I should forget to love Him or to love others, the two commands that are the foundation of all the will of God. 

Second is to keep my eyes looking to heaven.  Should I look to the things of this earth to heal the wound of my soul that can only be healed by His touch?  Many is the person who has gone onto the rocks and wrecked their life when they sought some temporary comfort for the distress of their soul.  

Third is to go "Steady on, to endure!"  This is the directive of the Word for such times.  "Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong." (Hebrews 12:13, NLT)

Fourth is to weep, but not allow bitterness to take root.  To question God's seeming absence is no sin.  To wonder why we are not able to hear His voice or sense the comfort of the Spirit is quite acceptable.  To rail on Him, to accuse Him of being uncaring, unloving, or unjust only creates a place for doubt to flourish and bitterness to take root.  The Word warns that from that root of bitterness comes great and troubling discontent!  

If you, too, are bearing the silence of God, join me in an earnest prayer for faithfulness!   This was what I asked of Him today that He would see my weakness and make it an opportunity to display His power, that He would defend me against the Destroyer and keep me faithful.  Ask Him the same.  He will do it, for His glory and His own Name's sake.  Amen.

None other than St. Paul, who knew both great triumph and terrible rejection reminds those who are broken by life that our weakness creates a place for His strength to shine through. May his reflections encourage those who wait in weakness today.  “I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.  Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”  (Lord, I believe. Help me overcome my doubt!)
So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NLT)

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"Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken."
O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.

To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:
"What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit?
Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help."

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever."
(Psalm 30:4-12, NIV)