Grow Through The Gospels - John 11

Read: John 11

John 11:6 “So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.”

Think

“Has God trusted you with a silence – a silence that has great meaning?” (Oswald Chambers)

What if God’s silences are actually his answers? Think about those days of absolute silence in the home at Bethany, where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived. When Lazarus fell ill, his sisters sent word to Jesus, expecting him to come and heal their brother immediately. But Jesus did not come right away; instead, he stayed where he was for two more days. This period of waiting and silence must have been agonizing for Mary and Martha. Have you ever experienced something similar in your life? Can God trust you with his silence, or are you still seeking a tangible answer? Sometimes, God gives us the very blessings we ask for, but his silence often means he’s bringing us into a deeper understanding of himself. Are you mourning before God because you haven’t had an immediate response to your prayer? When you can’t hear God, could it possibly be that it’s because he trusts you in the most intimate way possible—his silence isn’t despair, but pleasure, because he knows you can handle greater things.

If God has given you silence, then praise him—he’s bringing you into the core of his purposes. The actual evidence of his answer will come in his time. Remember, time means nothing to God. His silence is a sign that he has heard you and is working in ways you can’t yet see.

A wonderful aspect of God’s silence is that it can fill you with perfect confidence. You begin to say, “I know that God has heard me.” If you think God will always bless you in response to prayer, he will, but you may never experience the grace of his silence. While we often interpret God’s silence as abandonment, it’s quite the opposite. His silence does not mean he is absent.

So, what should we do in those moments? God’s silence is an invitation, just like his leadings, promptings, and movements in our lives. Henry Blackaby said, “You can respond to the silence of God in two ways. One response is to sink into depression, guilt, and self-condemnation. The other is to have an expectation that God is about to bring you to a deeper knowledge of himself.” James, the brother of Jesus, tells us, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8). He doesn’t give us a timeline, just a promise.

Too often, we miss God because we’re in a rush for something to happen, for something to change. God’s silence is an invitation to stop, slow down, and meet him, doing some hard heart work. This can be painful, which is why we often try to avoid it. But just as we miss out on God’s best by not following his leadings, we also miss out on his best by not embracing his silence.

Apply

"Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). When you experience God’s silence, instead of rushing to find answers, take time to be still and acknowledge his presence. Think about his faithfulness and believe he is at work even when you can’t see it.

Pray

God, I admit I feel lost in the silence and sometimes wonder if you hear my prayers. Help me to trust that you are working even when I don’t see anything around me changing. Help me to draw near to you and to continue to seek after you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.