Finding God in the Silence: Embracing Hiddenness and Spiritual Dryness

Discover how the absence of God's felt presence can be part of his transformative grace. Mike Erre shares deeply from his current season of spiritual dryness, wrestling with divine silence, emotional fatigue, and the disorienting experience of not sensing God. Drawing from scripture, mystics, theology, and his own heartache, Mike explores the paradox of a God who is always present but sometimes hidden. This episode is a vulnerable and powerful conversation about the dark night of the soul, why God may withhold his tangible presence, and what we can learn when spiritual adrenaline runs dry. Whether you're currently wandering through one of those desolate spiritual seasons or accompanying someone who is, this episode offers honesty, hope, and a roadmap for seeking God in the silence. Key Takeaways: • God's Hiddenness Isn't Absence — Unpacking the biblical concept of God's manifest vs. universal presence, and why his felt absence might actually be forming us into deeper maturity. • Seeking in the Dry Seasons — How spiritual dryness can be an invitation to pursue God more earnestly, with examples from scripture including the Psalms, Isaiah, and Jesus' parables. • The Role of Timing — Exploring the idea that sometimes God's silence is strategic, waiting for the right moment to reveal himself more deeply or guide us forward. • Ugly Prayers and Authentic Faith — Learning to bring raw, unfiltered emotion into our prayer lives in seasons of doubt, fear, or exhaustion. • Follow the Faith of Others — When you can't see God for yourself, trust the community around you who might be seeing him on your behalf. Guest Highlights: This heartfelt episode features the unscripted, pastoral wisdom of co-host Andy Lara, who joins Mike in reflecting on faith, resistance, and the courage of walking through suffering alongside one another in community. Resources Mentioned: • Isaiah 45:15 – "Truly, you are a God who hides himself" • The Dark Night of the Soul (Concept) – Writings from Christian mystics on spiritual dryness • Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis – The story of Lucy and Aslan as a metaphor for following even when others can't yet see • John 15:1-5 – "I am the vine, you are the branches" • The Psalms of Lament – Honest, raw expressions of spiritual emptiness and longing Call to Action: If you're in a season of silence or feeling far from God, you're not alone. Join the conversation, send us your questions, and share your story. Then subscribe, leave a review, and follow us to stay connected with the Voxology community. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected], and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV Our Merch Store! ETSY Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected], and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Our Merch Store! ETSY Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy