December 20
When Heaven Is Silent
"When therefore He heard that he was sick, He stayed then two days longer in the place where He was."
Their beloved brother Lazarus had fallen suddenly ill, and now his life was hanging in that desperate valley where only a shadow separated him from death. So in their agony of soul, they sent word to the One who loved him, the One who could heal him at just a spoken word, the One they trusted and hoped in, the One they knew would answer when they called. But we see here a most distressing thing at first glance. The Lord made no rush to heal their brother, but rather He chose to wait for, not one day, but two days where He was. One might think that the Lord did not answer their cry for help, but when we tarry here for a moment we find that the silence of God was itself an answer. We are not told that there was merely no response on Jesus’ part, but we are distinctively told that He waited. He chose to remain silent by doing nothing at all.
God’s silence in a matter is another form of God’s voice speaking to the heart that is troubled. Silence speaks the loudest, beloved, when we discern that it is God’s answer for us. The silence of God is often more powerful to speak than any other word He can give. Confuse not His silence with slowness, but thank Him for the answer found therein.
How often I have lifted up the wailing voice to the throne of God beseeching Him to come and to heal or restore my situation only to receive no word, see no action taken. I have experienced His outward silence even in the darkest of times. But this divine silence of God is never to be taken as a heart of coldness or indifference. The Lord’s silence to Lazarus’ sisters was His answer. It was His provision to them that they could trust Him even when He is silent. They were wanting a healing, but He was going to give something even greater; a resurrection. It’s in the waiting that the Lord burns away all life of the flesh. When we wait for Him in the tomb of silence there shall come forth His mighty voice unto us when death is swallowed up in victory!
The songs of faith are written in the quietness when Heaven is silent. Did you know that the Song Bird never sings when it is about to give birth? Maybe it’s because they know instinctively that their greatest works come during those times when there is no song. It is in the stillness of God that our soul becomes still, as we find that He has not left His throne and He has not forgotten about His child. Are you waiting this hour for God to answer, to move and act on your behalf, but find He does not answer? These times of silence will give way to the sweetest fellowship between you and your Heavenly Father that you could never experience in the rushed and noisy places.
Tarry Father, that I may learn to discern your voice and experience your resurrection power.
Pearls of Grace is a book of devotions for the entire year, including a read through the Bible in a year calendar, broken down for every day. Beautifully written with encouraging words of hope and empowering words of joy and strength for every woman. Pam draws from the truth and richness of God's Word and gives real life examples in her down to earth style. A must have in your library, click here for more information.
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