When God Seems Silent – Jennifer Woodley
‘Then they sat on the ground with Job for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.’ Job 2:13 (NIV)
There are times when we experience deep grief. The death of a loved one. The loss of our home. A betrayal by our partner. An unexpected chronic illness. Our world becomes dark. No words bring relief. And God seems silent.
Actually, it is not words of comfort that we crave. It is a comforting presence. For now, that is all we need. Like Job’s friends who sat with their grieving friend, Jesus sits wordless with us in our pain. Just to know He is there is enough. Initially our grief and pain is too deep to be healed with words. We need empathetic silence and loving companionship. When God seems silent, He offers us this instead.
We have so many questions. Yet as we sit quietly with God for long enough, slowly the answers come. It’s the patient act of waiting in the darkness with our Heavenly Father that eventually unravels the answers. The promise is that when we seek long enough, we shall find. First is His comforting silent presence that holds us, then in time comes the words of life we are waiting for.
Do we find ourselves waiting in a dark place full of pain and grief right now? Does God seem silent to our pain and questions? Don’t attempt to rush past this place. Stay here. Allow God to hold us a little longer. Don’t lose hope. Light will break through darkness. God knows. God sees. And in time, He will speak to our grief.
Jennifer is a freelance writer who enjoys encouraging others on their faith journey with Christ. Contact | 
