I was sitting in a waiting room yesterday afternoon and was checking newsfeeds and I saw a tweet from Kate Motaung with the hashtag, #fmfparty and she was asking for suggestions for the word prompt for the Five Minute Friday party later in the evening. I tweeted “persist”, she announced QUIET at the party I didn’t go to! I saw the word about ten o’clock and honestly, I thought it would be hard to write on until this morning as I was doing my “read through the Bible” and the Lord said, “This…”
00:00
When God is QUIET
I’ve known the Lord a long time but I’ve been walking with Him for about twenty-four years. I’ve learned a lot and one of the things I’ve learned is that He is a good, good Father. We’ve had numerous conversations about Fatherhood – He and I; my earthly father was a dad-fail but NOT Him…always good.
There are two instances in our Lesson Book, the Bible, where God is quiet. So quiet, the silence wasn’t only deafening, but downright awful. We’re not talking about praying for something for two weeks and not hearing from Him. Or, fervently praying for someone for fifty years with no outward evidence of an answer.
We’re talking about 400 years.
The length of time between the time when Jacob and his sons, and all he had, moved to Goshen in Egypt, (while son Joseph was in the palace of the Pharaoh) and the time when Moses went back to tell his people it was time to leave, was 430 years.
Between Malachi and Matthew, approximately 400 years passed.
We are talking Q U I E T, y’all.
No apparent hope.
No written words of encouragement.
No signs of deliverance.
Stone.Cold.Quiet.
I’m not sure I could’ve survived. I probably would have given up. Hung my harp!
But, when God breaks the QUIET?
He always brings REDEMPTION.
If you are going through a season where your prayers are hitting the ceiling (or so it seems); God isn’t doing some new thing in your world; a time of quiet?
Hang in there. Stand firm. Have hope. Have confidence in this…
THE REDEEMER IS COMING and He will turn the quiet into dancing and great joy!
07:00 (I went over!)
xo
(P.S. NO, the photo is not me!)
Hey Susan, fancy meeting you here 😉 I love these words you wrote: When God breaks the quiet, he always bring redemption. Oh yes! I thought this word be hard to write on too but God’s spirit never fails us, even in these “little” things. A pleasure to stop by your place today.
And, it’s so quiet today, eh?
A wonderful reminder. Even in the quiet, God is never gone. Sometimes it can be hard to wait on God and trust in His plan. I’ve learned over time, though, that there is always a plan even if I don’t entirely understand it.
There always is, Amy M!
For sure–“Weeping may come for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” 400 years now that’s a long time to be quiet.
And a day is as 1,000 years to the Lord!
What beautiful encouragement here, Susan. Lovely. I never thought about that: 2 periods of quiet in Old Testament History and God bringing redemption each time. Wow!
Betsy…until this morning I hadn’t realized it, in this light, either!
Quiet does teach us that in the grand scheme of things God is moving even when we may not see or hear Him. Thanks for this post. I have not written my FMF yet but have been enjoying a quiet day. Jenn
Glad you are enjoying a quiet day, Jenn…and hope you write your post!
SO GOOD! I appreciate every word. Thank you!
TRUST. TRUST. TRUST. xo
Amen.
I went through a season of silence, followed by a season of sever depression. I am convinced that the Lord used that silence to teach me to operate on what I know, not on what I feel. Even in the quiet, He is working.
Marie, those feelings can get our underwear in a knot. It is so important to KNOW and then trust it. Amen.
Ah yes… I was pondering this long (LONG!) period of silence not too long ago! Doesn’t it just give you so much more grace for them then, and realize we need so much patience and grace for ourselves now? Love this!
Oh yes…thanks for coming over to my house!
Just you know having a praise party over here!! When God breaks the quiet he brings redemption!!! YES, YES! Loved this post as usual!
Laura, thanks for your faithful encouragement.
Amen! Sometimes we don’t realize that God is quiet–maybe it’s because he wants us to check out the FAQs in his word…
The FAQ’s in The Word. Ooooh I like that!
“THE REDEEMER IS COMING and He will turn the quiet into dancing and great joy!” AMEN Loved your post as always, Susan! Blessings! xo
Your words are encouraging, Susan. Thank you. Sometimes when God is quiet I begin to believe the lies the enemy tells me. God has not forgotten me, even when He’s quiet. Great post!!
Isn’t that the truth?