Why is God silent?

[outofbabylon]

Ive been an SDA for 3 years. Shortly after Baptism I was attacked by a best friend who tried to extort $40,000.00 from me. I said no and one year of attacks followed as he tried to destroy my life. However scary...none of the darts stuck. Praise God!

Since graduation of that trial I pray everyday and at the end I ask God to show me who he is and what I should do for Him. I have heard nothing from him (that my flesh) can detect in years. Do you suppose that I may be in my "wilderness"? I know he is there by the promise in His word but he feels SOOOOOOO far away or maybe I just can't hear His voice #(!":<#. Ive given up all hidden sins (that I know of) and pray to be used by Him where and when He wants. I still don't know my purpose on earth and I feel so misplaced. :-(Any scriptures or Biblical comments?
Your prayer is welcome.

Your eternal bro
Robert
Visit my (His) music @ www.myspace.com/robertvibe

[newbie]

OOB,
If we want to be disciples of Jesus, we must spend time with Him.  An hour a day with your bible preferably early before anything confuses or interrupts.  It will take time, but somewhere between 2 and 3 months of doing this (including Sabbaths), you will begin to be led by the Spirit.  Impressions will be laden in your mind that will 'sound like' your bible words.  Pray for enlightenment and a desire to read your bible.  Seek to understand the character of Jesus and pray for forgiveness and repent....  continually every day. 

I have posted more detail on a thread here called 'Getting Self Out' 

 Sometimes there is a 'silence' before He takes us to the next step of faith.  Abraham prayed continually for 3 days and all night for heavenly messengers to be sent to him and to remove the trial from him.  God was silent during the trial but bestowed many blessings on Abraham after he was faithful.

newbie

[Jim]

OOB, the silence of God can be a very tough thing. Especially when you desire to be close to Him. I can't really explain why God is silent in your case. I would just ask that you keep praying this Psalm.... but please don't take offense it's simply what came to my mind. And if you know that your heart is right with God then don't let me be like Job's 3 friends who gave him nothing but bad advice...

Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

God is not far away.... take a look at this statement... this is one of my favorite references from the writings of Mrs. White....

The sense of sin has poisoned the springs of life. But Christ says, "I will take your sins; I will give you peace. I have bought you with My blood. You are Mine. My grace shall strengthen your weakened will; your remorse for sin I will remove." When temptations assail you, when care and perplexity surround you, when, depressed and discouraged, you are ready to yield to despair, look to Jesus, and the darkness that encompasses you will be dispelled by the bright shining of His presence. When sin struggles for the mastery in your soul, and burdens the conscience, look to the Saviour. His grace is sufficient to subdue sin. Let your grateful heart, trembling with uncertainty, turn to Him. Lay hold on the hope set before you. Christ waits to adopt you into His family. His strength will help your weakness; He will lead you step by step. Place your hand in His, and let Him guide you.  {MH 85.1}  Never feel that Christ is far away. He is always near. His loving presence surrounds you. Seek Him as One who desires to be found of you. He desires you not only to touch His garments, but to walk with Him in constant communion. 86

Also here is one of best sermons I've heard on  "The Silence of God" It's by David Asscherick.

http://www.yourvideos.net/hopevideo/CampMeeting2006/David_cm06-3.wmv

[Jim]

Isa 40:27  Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
Isa 40:28  Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Isa 40:29  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Isa 40:30  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
Isa 40:31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

[Deborah Risinger]

Hello "outofbabylon"  ..I am from Sodom and Gomorrah which is also located in California. hhhe eheeee, I now live else where.

If I might....If we could feel God all the time...even a majority of the time, there would be no need for faith. It is His desire for us to "believe Him"...learning to "believe Him" is and will be the greatest journey any human can chose to enter into. It is often a solitary journey (without human company) that is shared intimately and primarily between God and us "individually."  It is mostly enjoyed when we except it "on His terms."  He will not let you down, I promise...remember, it is to His pleasure for you to be His beneficiary. He will give you glimpses of Himself as He sees fit....be patient, He is a  beautiful tender person. He is worth trusting.   

Also....it must be difficult at times for God. He is holy, righteous, pure...He can only speak that which is a reflection of Himself...because of this, what comes from His mouth to our ears is "only... holy, righteous and pure. If you and I are not prepared to receive, enter into and live that which He speaks to us, that is "sin" on our part. God will protect us from sin...His love for us is very deep.

Remember, His voice is Scripture...that is our reference point, treasure it...in "it" you will learn to hear His voice.

Welcome to the forum...I hope you find friends and answers.

God's Blessings'
Deborah

[newbie]

Jim,
The DAvid A. sermon was very good....

I'm reminded of Gideon.....  notice how the angel of the Lord calls Gideon a mighty man of valour and Gideon basically says,, "Where have you been?  The Midianites are defeating us and we know you were there in the past for our fathers but what about now? 

Judges 6:12: And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
13: And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
14: And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
15: And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.
16: And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

ARen't we like this today? 

[Soli Deo Gloria]

Welcome to the forum, outofbabylon.

I will second what some of the others have said about the importance of Bible study and prayer. But also it is important not to depend on feelings. By believing the Bible promises that they are absolutely true will go a long way as well.

Sometimes in our Christian experience, there are times of wandering in the wilderness, when we will feel far from God, but He has not left us. He sometimes uses wilderness experiences to bring us into an even richer experience with Him after it's over.

But I am reminded of a hymn we used to sing at campmeeting :  "The Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow"

Will continue to pray for you,

Stan

[Jim]

But also it is important not to depend on feelings.

Amen! Feelings come and feelings go. Some stay around longer than others depending on the situation. But Christians walk by faith not by sight nor by feelings.

[V. Hahn]

I'm in agreement with the others--totally!

OOB, when I read your plea, it reminded me when I've gone through similar experiences.  I know we're not supposed to copy long quotes, so forgive me...these from the SOP really helped me when I was experiencing the same thing...

Our High Calling (1961), page 124,

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)." Hebrews 10:23.

"It is our privilege, as children of God, to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. At times the masterly power of temptation seems to tax our will power to the uttermost, and to exercise faith seems utterly contrary to all the evidences of sense or emotion; but our will must be kept on God's side. We must believe that in Jesus Christ is everlasting strength and efficiency. . . . Hour by hour we must hold our position triumphantly in God, strong in His strength. . . .

"All things are possible to them that believe. Since God is working in you, you can safely set your face as a flint to do His will, and you may trust the Lord perfectly. . . .

"You must make a daily, personal consecration of all to God, You must daily renew your covenant to be His wholly and forever. Place no dependence upon changeable feelings, but plant your feet upon the sure platform of the promises of God: Thou hast said it; I believe the promise. This is an intelligent faith.

"Your feelings will be troubled as you see some pursuing a course contrary to the principles of Christ; trials and tests of faith will come to you; but I entreat you to look only to Jesus, and allow none of these things to harden your heart, or to cause darkness or unbelief. Let nothing cause your faith to fail. Live as in the sight of God. Talk with Jesus as you would speak with a friend. He is ready to help you in the sorest trial; He is with you in the gravest perplexity. . . .

"A feeling of assurance is not to be despised; we should praise God for it; but when your feelings are depressed, do not think that God has changed. Praise Him just as much, because you trust in His word, and not in feelings. You have covenanted to walk by faith, not to be controlled by feelings. Feelings vary with circumstances. . . .

"Walk before God by faith, and rest fully upon His promises. Jesus says, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:20.

In Heavenly Places (1967), page 126,

"The religion of Christ is not a religion of mere emotion. You cannot depend upon your feelings for an evidence of acceptance with God, for feelings are variable. You must plant your feet on the promises of God's Word . . . and learn to live by faith.

"As soon as one begins to contemplate his feelings he is on dangerous ground. If he feels happy and joyous, then he is very confident and has very pleasing emotions. The change will come. There are circumstances that occur which bring depression and sad feelings; then the mind will naturally begin to doubt whether the Lord is with him or not.

"Now, the feelings must not be made the test of the spiritual state, be they good or be they discouraging. The word of God is to be our evidence of our true standing before Him. Many are bewildered on this point. . . .

"If you confess your sins, believe they are pardoned, because the promise is positive. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Why, then, dishonor God by doubting His pardoning love? Having confessed your sins, believe that the word of God will not fail, but that He is faithful that hath promised. It is just as much your duty to believe that God will fulfill His word and forgive your sins as it is your duty to confess your sins. Your faith must be exercised in God as one who will do just as He has said He would do-- pardon all your transgressions. . . .

"Oh, how very many go mourning, sinning and repenting, but always under a cloud of condemnation! They do not believe the word of the Lord. They do not believe that He will do just as He said He would do. . . . You hurt the heart of Christ by doubting, when He has given us such evidences of His love in giving His own life to save us that we should not perish but have everlasting life.

"We must trust; we must educate and train our souls to believe the word of God implicitly. "