When God is Silent

Trust in the Lord forever; for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.  Is. 26:4

I have used the words, "The Lord told me...." before and meant them with all my heart. I was sure I heard the voice of the Lord and  walked in the confidence of His commands or rebukes or encouragements.

Darlene Diebler Rose, a missionary who was held captive by the Japanese for four years during WWII, would often hear the voice of the Lord in her spirit. When questioned as to how she KNEW it was the Lord she explained that is was like the first time she heard her Mother's voice saying her name after four years in the prison camp- no one said her name like her Mother. And no one said her name like her Savior either.

I know what she meant.

But there are times I am not sure- was I hearing what I wanted to hear or what I hoped the Lord would say? I am very careful what I lay on the Lord or claim as His words.

And then there are the other times, like lately, when God is silent.

I wonder about these time- have I done something to break fellowship or have I neglected His Word?

Or could it just be that He wants to let me walk in the truth I have learned, relying on His Word for the truth that I need?

There are times as a Mom that I have stepped back, silent, as a child walked through situations so that they could test the truth for themselves,  and see for themselves the value of standards. They must own what they believe.  This is much easier to do when they walk in wisdom than when they walk in foolishness. To be silent instead of trying to fix......that takes the Lord, Sister!

This morning, as I contemplated my Lord's recent silence I read this verse:

Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come; You have given commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress.  Ps 71:3

A rock is silent. A fortress is mute. But in the quiet of a fortress is the silent strength of safety and rest. It's solid peaceful permanence is what brings confidence.

So instead of fretting about the silence, I am going to rest in it. I am going to stand on it because my Rock is solid and reliable and resilient and stable and unchanging.

My Rock is righteous, my Rock is love, and my Rock is everlasting. And I don't need to hear His voice to rest in that.

I love You, O Lord, my strength, The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."  Ps. 18:1,2