“I cry out to You, O God, but You do not answer;” (Job 30:20)

“O my God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer, by night, and am not silent.” (Psalm 22:2)

Ever feel like that? – like Job did or like David did when he called out to God but God was silent. (or so Job and centuries later David, thought at the time) I confess – I’ve felt this way – but

it occurs to me today as I ponder this, that maybe when I am thinking God is silent, when I am complaining that God is silent . . . I should take off my headphones, take out my earbuds – I should turn down the volume on my TV. Then a much more radical thought presents itself – don’t just turn the volume down – turn off the TV!

With that noise silenced, I hear the radio and realize I could turn that off too! The praise music, the pod cast, the audio book, the phone, the talking, the texting (which can be quite loud) – what if I turned them all off? What would that sound like? Whose voice would I hear then?

Could it be, that while I have been assuming God’s silence, He has been speaking? – tenderly, soothingly, clearly, truthfully, forcefully, gently, in every way from thundrous thunder to the gentlest whisper, my Heavenly Father has been speaking, singing over me even – He has not been silent – I just haven’t been listening. I say I want to hear His voice and then I don’t even take the time to listen – to turn down the volume, no to turn off the volume and seek Him in silence . . .

Guess this one’s on me. Forgive me, Lord.

“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

“I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1)

“But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.” (Habakkuk 2:20)

“Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.” (Zechariah 2:13)

“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

My Heavenly Father is not silent – He is singing, whispering, teaching, disciplining, reassuring, shouting, proclaiming His truth to me – and to anyone who would be still and listen. I have His promise,

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8)

My Heavenly Father is not silent! But I need to be!

“Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

“So Eli told Samuel, ‘Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’ ‘ . . . The Lord came . . . Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for Your servant is listening.’ ” (1 Samuel 3:9-10)

so am I Lord, listening, teach me to listen well,

sincerely, Grace Day