silence

sometimes it’s a good thing, signifying contentment. other times it forewarns of a storm brewing. as people grow in various relationships they learn to decipher the different kinds of silence and how to respond.

but how do i react when it seems God has stopped talking? when His silence is deafening? i’ve slowly begun to realize that it’s possible to be at that place where His silence is no longer threatening but a sign of true intimacy. it’s been said that a sign of true friendship is when silence between two people ceases to be awkward. how much truer should this be in my relationship with God? when it seems like He's not speaking to me do i panic, questioning my salvation, fearing that just maybe He doesn't love me as much as He used to? oh, to be in a place where i can be so confident in my standing with Him that I can rest in Him, even when He's quiet. there’s a place of learning that this silence isn't always a bad thing but a different dimension of relationship. when silence is scary it proves lack of faith. doubt and fear begin to be the roadside signs where there is shallow understanding of real love.

in retrospect i'm grateful for those seasons of silence I’ve walked through. the lessons learned have been so valuable. but if i'm completely honest with myself they were scary times. i wondered if i was "spiritual" enough to hear from Him. i doubted His love for me. i questioned His faithfulness. i challenged His character.

and i don't want to wonder ever again. this life was never meant to be wandered through but walked with faith and confidence. we know that our salvation was God's initiative towards us out of His deep and agonizing passion for us, an affection that never fades with time or circumstance. such a mystery. such a beauty.

should i not trust His intimate affections? should i not press in even harder through the silence? even when married couples have seasons of quiet and sparks get doused momentarily, their love remains constant. silence does not alter a state of existence. similarly, God’s character and intentions for me are constant and pure, even when He’s quiet in His love. sometimes His silence is the best expression of His tenderness.