Silence

Silence. God is not afraid to test us with His silence. In some situations it's not silence at all. His Word has given us instructions on what to do in certain situations, and we have decided to ignore it. We wonder--and often mumble under our breath--why He isn't telling us what to do when He already has. Perhaps, in the back of our minds, we're hoping He'll change His mind about what obedience demands of us and give us a special dispensation so we can do what we want. Or blame what goes wrong on Him.
Often His silence is to get our attention--get us to stop being so busy and just listen. We have so many "voices" telling us things to do that we've failed to listen for the still, small voice of His love and direction. Silence is not evidence that He doesn't care, but evidence that we need to clear our minds--and schedules--and just listen, just be still. The purpose of His silence is to shut out the noise of the world around us--and the thoughts of the world echoing in our minds.
Silence is also the foundation for meditation on the Word hidden in our hearts. We need time to let His Word enrich us with its truth--to reveal to us what's on His mind for us. His silence speaks so loudly that I can walk down a noisy hallway filled with clamoring students, and He can draw my attention to the hurting student standing there alone or even laughing in a crowd of friends. Silence increases my sensitivity to the sorrow in the heart of another. He is silent so that I might speak on His behalf and ensure another heart that He loves them and cares for his or her brokenness.
Silence is His way of saying, "You know what to do. Quit vacillating and just obey."
Silence is His way of saying, "all the voices in your head are drowning out My voice. Be still so you can hear Me. Hush all the competing voices: My sheep hear My voice and follow Me."
Silence is His way of saying, "You need to be My voice, speak for Me. There is someone right next to you who needs to hear you say--in My place--that I love and care for their hurting heart."
That old cliche has some truth to it, does it not? "Silence is golden." It can enrich your life and the lives of those He's sent to you to be His still, small voice.