When God Seems Silent

There have been many times in my stand for my marriage that I have asked God to speak to me - to let me know that what I am doing is what he wants me to do; to let me know when this will end; to show me a sign that will tell me that progress is being made.  Sometimes I do get a response, either through His word, or sometimes through other outward signs like things I see, or in conversations with others.  But then there are other times when it is just silent.  Either I'm not getting it, or He isn't speaking just yet.  It is during those times when my stand has been most challenging.  I begin to wonder, "Is this really what my life's purpose is?", "Did I imagine that God gave me this task?", and so on.  It is difficult.  I have heard from others as well that this happens to them.  Of course it does.  We are humans.  We operate on earthly time, not on God's eternal time.  We long to see something, anything, to keep us going.  We get to the point where God's promise isn't enough anymore because we aren't used to not knowing when something will happen, or at least not being able to make something happen.  We were designed by God to be this way.  Maybe so that we can develope trust in Him and Him alone.

An example of a time when someone wasn't being answered by Jesus is found in Matthew 15: 21-28.  This is the story of the Canaanite Woman.  For historical background, at this time Jesus is turning His focus toward the Gentiles because the Jewish leaders were becoming more strongly opposed to Him.  John the Baptist had been beheaded.  Jesus fed the 5,000 (proving He could meet the needs of the Jews) and then walked on water (proving Himself once again to be Lord).

Jesus Meets the Canaanite Woman

²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”

 

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.” ²⁴ He answered, “I was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel.”

 

²⁵ The woman came and knelt before Him. “Lord, help me!” she said. ²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” ²⁷ “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

 

²⁷ Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
(Matthew 15: 21-28)

 

Jesus must have known He was going to come in contact with this woman.  But why go there just to ignore her?  Clearly this woman was not about to give up.  What a great example of perseverence.  Here was Jesus, whom she knew could give her the miracle she was asking, but He didn't answer her, at first.  Here was a Gentile who was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah.  The conventional wisdom at this time was that Jesus would not help Gentiles.  This woman pushed through that conventional wisdom for the sake of a healing for her daughter.  She went against what the world said to do.

 

Was Jesus' not responding to her test?  If so, this woman clearly passed because Jesus ended up responding to her and healing the woman's daughter.  Her great faith must have been refreshing to Jesus.  She was proclaiming her faith for all to see.  Jesus was initially silent, then He provided her miracle because of her faith and He acknowledges her great faith!

The conventional wisdom for those facing a divorce is to "move on".  Many do "move on" after initially standing.  In remaining to stand for the healing of your marriage and spouse, you are showing God your great faith, even when it seems like He isn't listening.  Show Him that you are like the Canaanite woman.  Push through the conventional wisdom that God doesn't heal marriages/spouses.  Push through the conventional wisdom that we should just move on.  Push through the conventional wisdom to find someone new, and better...  Push through the conventional wisdom even when it seems like God is silent.  Show Him your great faith.  He will answer.