Why God Feels Silent (And What He’s Actualy Doing)
There’s something most believer’s don’t talk about.
You’re on fire for God. You’ve surrendered your heart to Him. You feel His presence. Everything is wonderful…
Then, nothing.
You’re in the wilderness. The days of spiritual dryness drag on and on. And God is silent.
I know this struggle firsthand.
If you find yourself in this situation, I have new perspective on what God might be doing in your life when you love Him wholeheartedly, but He feels distant.
1. He’s preparing you for destiny
Long seasons where God feels distant is your chance to develop a firm foundation that will carry you for the rest of your life. It’s the time to build deep roots that can withstand the weight of the fruit of your calling.
Look at those who have gone before us. Joseph and king David went through years of isolation, pain and trials before they fulfilled their destiny. God was giving them an opportunity to prove their faithfulness in little so they could be trusted with much. Joseph interpreted the dreams of the butler and the baker in the prison before he ever spoke to the Pharoah. David tended the sheep before he ever looked after God’s sheep, the people of Israel, as king.
I think that some people don’t go deep enough with God and understand what is possible in their relationship with Him because they obtain a quick promotion which distracts them from deeper intimacy with Him. The most precious gems, like diamonds, are found in the deepest parts of the earth. So, the wilderness season is a chance to search out these treasures of revelation.
Steps to partner with God in your preparation season:
Develop a lifestyle of seeking God and keeping Him your first priority
Learn from other believers who have experience in your calling
Keep being faithful in your everyday tasks
Learn your identity in Christ and walk in that authority
2. He’s developing your character
Our preparation process isn’t only about being faithful with little, but also developing our heart.
Here’s an unpopular truth, but the Lord specifically told me this personally in the middle of my wilderness season.
The wilderness is allowed by God to eliminate our pride.
One night I cried out to God because I had enough of this ongoing spiritual warfare and pain where I felt that I was being pressed like an olive. I just couldn’t understand why this was happening to me and why it had lasted for years on end. I honestly felt isolated and as though other Christians couldn’t relate.
Suddenly, I got my answer loud and clear.
God said, “Beloved, there was pride.”
Then, there was a pause as I wondered about that.
He then said, “But you are learning now.”
Bottom line?
God must purge each of us from pride, and a wilderness season is His way of doing that.
It’s only when we study the Word that we find out where pride is hiding in us and how to develop the humility to overcome it. Pride is not always that easy to recognize, so we must let the Lord examine us and reveal to us where we need to grow.
Deuteronomy 8:2 spells out the reason for our wilderness:
And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
3. He’s leading you
You might feel like God is nowhere to be found. You might feel like all hell is breaking lose. But the wilderness isn’t a sign that God has rejected you or abandoned you.
Remember that verse above? It was God who led the Israelites through the wilderness.
Afterall, Jesus went there too.
It was the Holy Spirit who led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan for 40 days.
God led you to the wilderness, showing you He is with you.
The wilderness is acceptance, not rejection.
It’s a necessary stop in the journey for all who truly belong to the Lord. God directs our path there so that at the right time, we will come out like Jesus did, in the power of the Spirit and with a heart prepared for our heavenly mandate.
Remember, God makes a way in your wilderness, and He is also making you!