Unanswered Prayer?
God's silence is not a sign of absence, but rather an opportunity for spiritual growth and a test of our faith.
Bakht Singh preaches about the lessons we learn when God is silent, using Job's experience to illustrate the feeling of unanswered prayers and darkness in our lives. He emphasizes that silence from God does not mean absence, but rather an opportunity to build intimacy and trust. Through silence, our faith is tested as we learn to rely on God without constant guidance, demonstrating our growth and trust in Him.
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Do you feel like God isn't answering your prayers? Job the patriarch felt the same way: 'I cry out to You, O God, but You do not answer; I stand up, but You merely look at me... When I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness.' (Job 30:20; 26) All of us go through times when it feels like God has moved and left no forwarding address. What's He up to? Why doesn't He respond? There are some lessons you only learn when God is silent:
(1) Silence isn't absence. An old proverb says, 'Speech is silver, silence is gold!' Sometimes God says to you, 'Be still, and know that I am God.' (Psalm 46:10) You have to be really secure with somebody to just sit quietly with them. Silence takes the emphasis off words and builds a level of intimacy where they're no longer necessary. If you want to be comfortable with God, learn to enter into meditation and silence with Him.
(2) Silence tests your faith. How much faith is actually involved when somebody's coaching your every step? It's like a parent running alongside a child who's learning to ride a bike. Right now the child lacks confidence, but they're going to look strange at age twenty if that parent is still trotting along beside them! At some point God takes His hands off the wheel to see how far you've progressed. And for a while it can be a wobbly ride. That's when you demonstrate how far you've come, and where you're placing your trust
Sermon Outline
- I. God's Silence Isn't Absence
- A. Silence can be a form of intimacy with God
- B. We must learn to be comfortable with silence and meditation
- II. God's Silence Tests Our Faith
- A. Faith is demonstrated when we trust God despite His silence
- B. We must show God that we can ride the bike of life on our own
- III. Lessons Learned in God's Silence
- A. Silence can be a catalyst for spiritual growth
- B. We must learn to trust God in the midst of uncertainty
Key Quotes
“Silence isn't absence. An old proverb says, 'Speech is silver, silence is gold!'” — Bakht Singh
“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Bakht Singh
“You have to be really secure with somebody to just sit quietly with them.” — Bakht Singh
Application Points
- Learn to enter into meditation and silence with God to build a deeper level of intimacy with Him.
- Trust God despite His silence and demonstrate your faith by riding the bike of life on your own.
- God's silence can be a catalyst for spiritual growth, so be open to the lessons He is teaching you.