Title: Don’t Be Offended by God’s Silence
Bible Texts: Matthew 15:23; Jeremiah 29:11
Matthew 15:23
“Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, ‘Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.’” (NIV)
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)
Introduction
Life’s journey is marked by exhilarating mountain peaks and sorrowful valley lows. It is not determined by chance or fate but by God’s sovereign hand. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV). This journey is meant to shape and align us with God’s eternal design.
However, we often encounter times of deep sorrow, need, or uncertainty; moments when heaven appears strangely silent. Our prayers seem unanswered. Our pain, unrelieved. In such moments, we may feel forsaken, forgotten, or abandoned by God. Yet, God’s silence does not mean His absence. It does not indicate a lack of care or rejection.
In truth, God’s silence is often a redemptive strategy; a thread in the tapestry of His saving work. Just as a master artist uses both light and shadow, God uses silence to deepen our faith, refine our character, and draw us nearer to Him. His silence is purposeful, just as a wise guide knows when to speak and when to let the journey speak for itself. Silence may not signal the end but a turning point in our spiritual growth. Even when we cannot hear Him, He still speaks.
When heaven seems quiet, let us reflect on what it might mean for believers, and how we should respond to God’s apparent stillness.
- God’s Silence Tests the Depth of Our Faith
Matthew 15:21–28 recounts the remarkable story of the Canaanite woman who pleaded with Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter. In verse 23, “Jesus did not answer a word.” His initial silence was not indifference but a test, an opportunity to expose and purify the woman’s faith.
She persisted, even in the face of silence. Her trust was rooted in the power and goodness of Christ, not in an immediate answer. Her persistence moved Jesus, who eventually responded, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” (v. 28)
Likewise, God’s silence in our lives often serves to test the sincerity and depth of our faith. As 1 Peter 1:6–7 states, trials come “so that the proven genuineness of your faith, of greater worth than gold… may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Silence from heaven challenges us to believe in God’s character and promises, even when we cannot trace His hand.
- God’s Silence Prepares Us for Something Greater
The story of Lazarus in John 11 reveals how divine silence can precede divine glory. After Mary and Martha informed Jesus of Lazarus’s illness, He delayed His visit. For two agonizing days, Jesus remained silent, and Lazarus died.
To the sisters, this delay likely felt like abandonment. But Jesus explained, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4)
His silence preceded a miracle more astonishing than healing: resurrection. God’s silence often foreshadows something greater. His delays are not His denials.
As Isaiah 55:8–9 reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways… As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Often, God is working behind the scenes, changing circumstances, transforming hearts, and orchestrating events to reveal His glory.
- God’s Silence Invites Us Into Deeper Intimacy
Rather than prompting us to try harder, God’s silence may be His way of inviting us closer. In silence, we are drawn not only to seek His hand but to know His heart. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
In our loud, fast-paced world, silence can feel uncomfortable. Yet God often whispers His most profound truths in silence. Elijah discovered this on Mount Horeb; God was not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12).
In silence, God builds a relationship based on His presence, not just His provision. The stillness becomes sacred; a space of connection, much like lovers who communicate without words.
After enduring silence and suffering, Job finally declared, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” (Job 42:5) God’s silence invites us to pause, reflect, and reorient ourselves to know Him in both waiting and fulfillment.
Conclusion
God’s silence always serves a purpose. Whether He is drawing us closer, testing our trust, or preparing us for something greater, His silence is never wasted. Like the Canaanite woman, we are called to persevere. Like Mary and Martha, we are called to trust, even when all seems lost. Like Elijah and Job, we are called to listen in the quiet.
Silence does not mean the story is over; it may be the whisper before the breakthrough, the breath before the miracle. As Lamentations 3:25–26 assures us: “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
May your silent seasons draw you nearer to God, not further away.
Reflection
Have you ever felt hurt or forgotten by God’s silence?
Today, reflect on this truth: God is not ignoring you. He is shaping you. His silence is not His absence; it is often His most loving tool to deepen your trust and refine your soul.
Take time to pray, journal, or simply sit in silence, not asking for answers, but for an awareness of His presence.
And remember: Don’t be offended by God’s silence; be transformed by it.
Let Us Pray
Father, I know You are always there for me, and You will never leave me alone in my moments of loneliness. I am sorry for my ignorance in thinking that Your silence is due to my mistakes or sins. Please forgive me and have mercy on me.
My Lord and God, I need You every hour. Breathe Your presence into my situation. Let the Holy Spirit minister hope to me and grant me grace to persevere.
Amen.
– John Aderogba for ROPMI