Trusting Anyways
What do we do when God feels silent? A loaded question. Not only is there the practicality piece of what to do, but there’s also an emotional and spiritual portion of feeling neglected or forgotten that often accompanies the plea.
God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good. What does that bring up in you? Do you believe it, or are there memories that flit through your mind that try to convince you otherwise?
This is something I wrestle with quite frequently. Because I know God’s Word says His character is good and is for me. But what do we do when our experiences seem to be telling us a different story? We all have seasons that seem to rear their head and speak louder than the proclaimed goodness of God.
I need to be honest here, there are times God’s character and nature are presented and I feel tired in trying to believe them to be true. The silence of the Lord creates, at times, a weariness. I resonate with the Psalmist when he says, “how long, oh, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1).
You can hear the cry in his voice. The cry is not coming from a place of lacking belief, rather it’s coming because he does believe. There’s a sense of, “you should be here by now. Where are you,” in his voice. Friend, have you been waiting for God to speak, or to provide, or to reveal Himself, and it seems like He just hasn’t? – you’re not alone. Even David, the man after God’s own heart, felt this way when he penned these words.
Psalm 13 is six verses. One of the shortest Psalms but packed with the reality of what it’s like to be human. And filled with the honest emotions of waiting on the Lord. David throws in a conjunction in verse five. He says, “But… I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation” (v. 5).
David, right in the middle of his confusion, frustration, and wondering where God is, proclaims his trust in God’s character anyways. Friend, there are times in our walk with the Lord where we need to trust that God’s good regardless of our feelings. This is no small task. It starts by remembering that there is much more going on than our two eyes can see in the world. God is so much bigger than our fickle experiences.
Is there something that’s come up for you these past few minutes? Maybe you need, like David, to put pen to parchment and flesh out your honest feelings with God. Do it. Be harsh and real and get to the bottom of where your feelings are coming from, then sit there and listen. Allow yourself, as David did even as an act of faith, to proclaim the character of God anyways.
The world is filled with disappoints, heartache, confusion, and challenge. Don’t let these things pull you away from the Lord, rather allow them to be a utility that draws you closer to Him. “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).
God’s not looking for you to say what you “should” say, He’s looking for honesty. If you’re overcome with gratitude, let Him know you’re thankful! If you’re struggling, allow yourself to be real and tell Him where you’re at. God is bigger than our feelings. Through it all would we have the courage to say, “but I have trusted in your steadfast love.”
