WHEN GOD IS SILENT

The future King David wrote the following Psalm while travelling in the desert of Judea where he was sleeping and hiding in caves from King Saul who was trying to kill him.  The land was very dry, and David and his men had to search to find water to drink.  They were also weary of being hunted like animals by their adversary.  David had an intimate relationship with God but in these circumstances, he wrote that he was searching hard to find Him.

God, you are my God. I am searching so hard to find you. Body and soul, I thirst for you in this dry and weary land without water. Yes, I have seen you in your Temple. I have seen your strength and glory. Your faithful love is better than life, so my lips praise your name, I lift my hands in prayer. When I sit down to satisfy my hunger, my joyful lips hunger to praise you! I remember you while lying on my bed. I think about you in the middle of the night. That is because you are the one who helps me. It makes me happy to be under your protection! (Psalm 63:1-7 ERV)

When we first came into recovery and experienced God’s goodness, life seemed peaceful, and we had great expectations of a trouble-free future. Now we are finding the going is tough, and God seems far away from us. When God is silent, He is not deaf or dumb.  He still hears and answers our prayers.  However, God’s overall plan may be to strengthen us by the Power of His Spirit so that we learn to persevere through future trials that may come our way.

David declares God’s faithful love is better than life and He continues to praise Him.  However, David’s immediate situation does not appear to be getting any better.  Eventually it did get better, but David had to persevere through many trials which helped develop both his character and his rock-solid faith in the God who helped him. We are ever under God’s protection and, as we strengthen ourselves in the Lord, we will have victory over the trials that come our way because God is the One who helps us.

But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. (1 Samuel 30:6b NKJV)

Prayer: Loving God, Help me to persevere through the trials of life knowing that You are always with me and will never leave me even in those times when I feel like I am living in a dry and weary land where I see no future. Thank You for Your protection over me and for strengthening me to face anything that may come my way. Amen