The perceived silence of God is paradoxical because God is never silent.  He is always speaking. He is always in action.  “He never sleeps nor slumbers” (Psalm 121:3-4).  Yet whenever one is in need, there is a perceived and rather uncomfortable silence of the heavens.  One prays and feels like the prayers aren’t going nowhere.  One calls on God and there is the feeling that he is not listening (Psalm 22:1).  What do you do when God is ‘silent’?

When news reached Nehemiah on the state of Jerusalem, he sat down, wept, mourned for days, fasted and prayed before the God of heaven (Nehemiah 1:1-4). His wait lasted for four months - between the month of Chislev when the news were relayed and Nisan when he got audience with the King. What was happening in the heavens in those four months? It seemed all quiet.

Jesus returned from his baptism in the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit.  He was led into the wilderness where he was tempted for forty days.  In all these days he ate nothing (Luke 4:1-2).  For these forty days, there doesn’t seem to have been any response from the heavens to what Jesus was going through.  It seemed all quiet.

Calamity struck Job when the LORD allowed Satan to bring destruction on his wealth and family.  Job was so struck that he sat on an ash heap in mourning over the calamity (Job 2:8). A long discourse between Job and his three friends followed.  They all sought to understand why Job was suffering as he did. They insisted that it was because of sin even though Job was upright before God. As these three men engaged Job, it seemed as though the heavens were silent. Finally, God spoke and vindicated Job.

The perceived silence of the heavens in the times of calamity is not really silence as humans would understand it, for God is always working.  What then is the believer to do when God is ‘silent’?

1. Lean in and draw strength from the LORD.  Psalm 27 is a psalm of David expressing his feeling of distance between him and the LORD.  In order to deal with his own feelings David leans in to the LORD and expresses his faith.  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall, I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? [...] Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:1,14)
2. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you (James 4:8). Draw near to God with the confidence that he hears you even when it seems to be silent.  “Draw near to the throne of grace, that you may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
3. Trust in God to restore you.  You may be walking the Emmaus road of pain and sorrow, feeling overwhelmed by your circumstances.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6).  In a season of feeling overwhelmed by situations of life, your own understanding can lead you to do things that bring regret later on.  Trust God to drive the process.
4. Be a part of the fellowship of brethren for it is here that we pray for and minister to each other.  The LORD commands us to bear one another’s burdens. “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. [...] So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:2, 10)
5. Read through the Psalms.  The Psalms are rife with palms that minister to the soul in circumstances of life.  The psalmists express their bare emotions before the LORD while at the same time acknowledging his power in their lives.  This is a good lesson for us today that no matter where we are in life, God is still present. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble [...] Be still, and know that I am God [...] The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:1,10,11). 

Despite the perceived period of God’s ‘silence’, you will come back with a testimony like that of Job.  “Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me.” I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.” (Job 42:4-5)