Faith is living each day in conversation with God. Yet in reality, we often fail to live that way. There are times when, sitting down to pray, no words come to mind; when opening the Bible, the words do not register; when listening to worship, only the melody lingers; even during the sermon in church, there are moments of emptiness where nothing seems to touch the heart.
When such times stretch on, people begin to doubt themselves. “Have I lost my faith?” “Has God been disappointed with me?” “Is God no longer speaking to me?” These questions naturally arise during seasons of silence.
Yet Scripture tells us: God speaks even when we are silent.
God works quietly
God’s work often unfolds in ways unseen. A prime example is Joseph. Sold by his brothers into Egypt, falsely accused, and imprisoned, Joseph seemed to hear no direct answer from God for a long time. Yet Scripture repeatedly says, “The LORD was with Joseph…” God’s silence is not absence. Even in silence, God is present, aligning the pieces of our lives and planting words deep in our souls. Though we may not feel it, God never ceases His work.
Where is God when we cannot pray?
Prayer is said to be the breath of faith. Does stopping prayer mean spiritual suffocation? Not so. God knows our very breath. When we have no strength even to breathe, God draws closer within us. Romans 8:26 says, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness… He intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Even when we cannot speak, the Spirit prays for us. This is the hidden comfort in God’s silence.
How to hear God’s voice
Seasons of silence teach us to listen for God’s voice. Our ears, accustomed to worldly noise, often fail to hear God’s quiet voice. So God calls us into silence. By calming emotions, lowering willfulness, and organizing the heart, we open our ears to God.
When Elijah was weary under the broom tree, God called him to Mount Horeb, where after wind, earthquake, and fire, God spoke in a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12). God does not speak with loud clamor. His voice is heard in quiet.
God waits for us to be still
God’s silence is a time waiting for our stillness. When we speak too much, demand too quickly, and move too restlessly, God leads us into quiet. His voice breaks through that stillness.
When prayer ceases, instead of forcing words, we must learn to rest silently before God. In the silence, God speaks; we begin to hear His voice again. After this time, God’s words become clearer and more vivid.
Prayer is speaking, but in relationship with God, speaking is not always necessary. Sometimes heart and posture matter more than words. Our silent moments are not “gaps” in God’s work but “cultivation.” God plants the seeds of His word deep within us when we are silent.
Silence is about depth, not distance from God
Feeling distant from God is often emotional. When prayer feels unanswered, Scripture seems dull, and God’s existence feels theoretical, we say we are distant. But God has never left us. Rather, when we struggle to reach God, He enters the deepest places of our being.
Love is the same way. Expressing love verbally is important, but simply being together also proves deep love. God knows and feels us even without words or expression. He sees sincerity beyond emotion.
God does not forget His word
Sometimes we feel unworthy to hear God’s word. When faith dulls, life unravels, and holiness feels far away, we hesitate before God’s voice. Yet God continues to speak and never forgets His word.
Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but shall accomplish that which I purpose.” God’s word permeates time and grows in silence. Even if the fruit is not immediate, remember that the moment the word is planted, it is growing.
Those who endure silence bear fruit
We are not losing faith; we are growing. Like a child’s height is unnoticed as it grows until suddenly others say, “You’ve grown so much.” Faith is the same. Silence can signal growth. Even when we cannot feel it, God deepens our roots.
John 15:2 says, “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes.” God refines us through silence—not rejection, but preparation for deeper fruit.
God’s presence begins quietly
Moses experienced God’s presence at the burning bush after 40 years in the wilderness. The bush burned but was not consumed, and God said, “Take off your sandals…” In that silent wilderness with no one around, God was present. God’s visitation always begins quietly.
Our lives are the same. Even on uneventful days, in times when prayer feels distant and worship seems routine, God is near, knocking gently on the heart. We just fail to hear Him; He has never stopped.
At the end of silence comes restoration
Psalm 30:5 says, “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Though the current time may feel like a dark night spiritually, God will surely bring a morning of restoration—mature faith, deeper prayer, and stronger devotion.
It is okay if prayer is silent or worship feels dull. God values our perseverance more than our outward acts. Though quiet now, God plants something precious within us, which will surely bear fruit and testify in our lives.
Do not fear silence. Silence can be a new path to God. God speaks even when we are silent. Perhaps then, He speaks most clearly. Let us again listen deeply in that quiet place today.
Maeil Scripture Journal | Faith Column
