S2 E16 When God is silent — part 1

Rachel and Melissa discuss the seasons in our lives when God feels silent. We are actively showing up, but we can't feel His presence for weeks, months or years on end. They also talk about times when we're praying for specific guidance and we don't hear anything back. Walking through the story of Job and God's long silence in his life during an agonizing time, they dive into what we can learn from the story. Show Notes: Habakkuk 1:2 “How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” Psalm 22:2 "Oh my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest" Stanton Witherspoon https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-practical-things-do-when-you-cant-hear-gods-voice-witherspoon#:~:text=God%27s%20silence%20isn%27t%20a,(Psalm%2022%3A2). What we can learn from Job through a period of God’s silence: Examine your life. Is there anything in our life that might block us from hearing from God? “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23,24 Do we have any unconfessed sin? Psalm 66:18 says, "If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, my Lord would not have listened" (NLT). Ask yourself: Do I have wrong motives? Is there anything (or anyone) that I love more than God? Accept God's Sovereignty “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted”. Job 42:2 (NIV) Recognize that God can be silent. There is no obligation for God to answer you, inform you or let you know anything. Job 38:4-5 "Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?" Job 38:12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, Job's wife suggests he curse God and die. Instead of following her advice, Job chooses to let God be God. "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" he asked (Job 2:10). Listen To What God Is Saying “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says”. James 1:22 (NIV) In fact, it is possible that you already have an answer from God. Challenge: Don’t stop! Listen to the next one! Take note of these points for the next time you walk through a season where God is quiet.