When God Is Silent, What Do You Do?
Is it actually a bad thing? What do YOU think?
I knew I wanted to write a post but for the first time in a while I didn’t know what talk about. So I had a moment of silence for quite a bit and here’s what my brain juice gave me.
So let me talk about this picture of sunflowers (I think they’re wild ones actually)—well, can I just say (and you might agree with me) they are SO beautiful, right?!
My husband and I went to get ice cream to celebrate our three years being together including our dating/engagement and this huge patch of sunflowers are literally always on the path…on the way to our desired dessert lol.
It’s like this; imagine a whole sidewalk you’re walking on and there are two big families of wild flowers—in which we have to always walk around to the side, onto the road, pass these flowers for five seconds, and continue back on the sidewalk.
I mean, I didn’t mind these flowers at all! In fact, I even took this picture because of their beauty, posture, and drive to grow demanded enough attention already, haha.
What I found interesting is that my husband and I were clearly put in a real situation of the famous quote of “stop and smell the roses.” Obviously, they’re not roses, but I hope you get my point.
Anyway, in literal situations of that quote, it’s hard to ignore these flowers.
Because here’s another one, lol.
I mean, look at these!!
I saw these purple daisies after we swung around the wild sunflowers. These lovelies weren’t in our way whatsoever, however they grabbed my attention along the way…look!! Don’t you see them trying to touch my feet? Haha, I don’t think I could have noticed them (besides their color) if they hadn’t tapped on me. Maybe it’s because I slightly matched with them with my dress. 😉
These two interactions with these flowers made me think a lot… and my personal opinion is that God’s silence could possibly look different than we think.
For me, when someone mentions the word “silence,” I just think of someone not talking, or even responding to someone else—almost like ignoring with intention, maybe?
I also think…okay, does God’s silence mean He doesn’t care so He just doesn’t respond to us/our concerns/thoughts/unresolved anxieties?
As I thought this, a memory unlocked, ringing in my ears were words from a good mother and friend telling me years ago,
“Silence is also a response.”
To be frank, I don’t think God ignores.
I do think that there is intention in His silence.
A higher, holier way of responding. A response so, incredibly personal that even an Almighty Father thinks your discussion with Him needs a moment of silence.
Perhaps the silence is long. Or short. Whichever it is, I believe in a God who is a God of purpose and with that, there is a sacred, intimate intention to every word He gives…and every silent moment He creates. With you, me, and everyone/thing else.
In silence, there could be weeping. In silence, there could be mourning. In silence, there is an opportunity of observance and respect for what is needed—death of a loved one or an unexpected tragedy, or whatever the heart cries for.
As you cry in your prayers to God,
in desperation, anger, frustration,
with emptiness, sadness, and loneliness,
asking Him, why me? why not me?
why this? why now?
why? why? why?
and Heaven doesn’t seem to answer—
In His silence, He could be weeping with you. In His silence, He could be mourning with us. In His silence, there is Love that still exists.
Could God’s silence be like these flowers on my path? Wanting, demanding my attention with no words? Tapping me, interrupting my path? Trying to help me pause and smile again?
As sudden as these floral interruptions were (in my focused walk to my ice cream), I hope you and I can recognize the precious gifts in our present time—the beautiful things we have now that absolutely demand our attention, back to our God.
That was so cool Jae. That God would be that subtile, that thoughtful, that sneaky, kind, hiding love for us in plain sight with flowers, trespassing across our path--that match our outfits! Who is this one!!