God's Silent Voice By Cortney Donelson

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

I imagine God having two communication channels.

His first channel is loud. He speaks to us as we soak in the words of His Bible. His messages come today as encouragements or convictions from speakers, pastors, family, or friends. They come as answered prayers. Prior to Jesus’ life, this channel spoke through prophets and God’s chosen people. During Jesus’ life, He spoke through His Son’s teachings and miracles. The messages are clear, purposeful, and oftentimes direct. There is no mistaking this communication channel. It has a voice.

“…the Word of the Lord came by Haggai the man of God, saying, ‘Speak now…” (Haggai 1:3)

The other channel is silent. Yet, the messages are just as clear, just as purposeful, and even more direct if we can prepare ourselves to hear what God says through His silence.

In the movie “Ocean’s Eleven,” Brad Pitt and George Clooney portray the characters Rusty Ryan and Danny Ocean, respectively. They are sitting at a bar deciding how many more members to recruit for their entourage in order to pull off a big casino heist. It is famously nicknamed the “You think we need one more” scene. Rusty’s head is down on the bar facing away from Danny.

“Saul makes 10. That ought to do it,” says Danny.

Rusty doesn’t move. He doesn’t blink. He doesn’t make a sound. He just stares at the bar’s TV screen. Silence.

“You think we need one more?” asks Danny.

Silence.

“You think we need one more,” states Danny.

Silence.

“Ok, we’ll get one more,” Danny agrees.

The scene is one of my favorites of the movie. Rusty never says a word, yet communication flows and a decision is made. The two are connected by a silent bond of understanding. They know each other.

I don’t know about you, but that is sometimes how I feel when I talk with God. I pour out my heart, and I hear silence.

Just as in that movie clip, we don’t have to fear that God’s silence doesn’t carry with it a hefty message, an influencing nudge, or a comforting embrace. Two-way communication continues to flow through God’s soundless channel. Love is expressed. Decisions are made. Lives are changed. Silence has a voice too.

How do we hear the voice of His silence? We follow the advice in Psalm 46:10. “Be still, and know that I am God.” If we slow down – stop even – we will find Him. We can know Him. When we intentionally slow our own thoughts, our own desires and expectations, and our flesh’s pursuits, He comes as a wave of relief. We will feel Him like a security blanket wrapped around our hearts. He may coach us with gut checks. We will become acutely aware of His comforting love and understand we are not alone.

Source: Uknown

To know God is not to be intellectually aware of Him and His inspired Scriptures but to capture and experience His reality and truths for ourselves. Just as Danny Ocean knew Rusty Ryan’s thoughts and wishes without any spoken communication, we can know God’s will and healing power by simply spending quiet time with Him. We can know Him by listening to and filling with His Spirit.

When we allow ourselves to be filled by His Spirit, our outlooks change. Our hardened hearts melt with His fire at the same time our restless minds learn to embrace His peace. Decisions feel “right,” and choices are confirmed. Peace blossoms into a solid confidence that we are operating within His will. God doesn't have to speak for us to know He is God and He is there. The people of Jesus' time were able to see and touch God through the person of Jesus. At times, I am envious of this. Then, I am reminded that we are filled with God through the person of the Holy Spirit. That is probably something for which the people of Jesus' time would have been envious of us.

Beth Moore, an extremely powerful Christian author and speaker, reminds us of something amazing in her “Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman” Bible study. The Book of Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not have God written into the account. God is silent throughout the pages, but He is never missing. He is working through the details of His story, leading Esther to her God-ordained destiny while staying behind the scenes … remaining unspoken. Esther knew God despite the silence. God’s silence had a powerful voice. It ultimately saved His people from complete annihilation.

What will God’s silence say to you?

Prayer – Father, thank You for communicating with us in all forms and avenues. You never hesitate to give us exactly what we need at the precise time we need it. I pray we continue to hear You and, even more importantly, obey You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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