Our natural reaction when we feel someone is giving us the cold shoulder is to draw away. “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” ( Psalm 42:11).įrom this psalm, we learn three important ways to approach God when we feel He is silent. Yet instead of receiving God's silence as rejection, the writer continued to trust God and praise Him: The writer of Psalm 42 knew what it’s like to cry out to God only to be greeted with silence. What are we to do when we pray to God - especially when we’re in desperate need - and we’re met with silence? Do we conclude God didn’t hear us? Do we think He’s not there or, worse, He doesn’t care? The thought of rejection and abandonment pierced deeper than any physical wound I was experiencing at the time.Īs a busy mom, I often crave quiet, but I’d argue there is no worse feeling than when it feels like the silence comes from God Himself.

With excruciating pain radiating from my neck all the way down my arm, I prayed to God for relief and expected direction, encouragement, or any sign to let me know I wasn’t as alone as I felt.Ĭonfused as to why God would choose now, of all times, not to respond - while I was in the hospital alone due to COVID-19 restrictions - I began to wonder if He was with me at all. “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Psalm‬ 42‬:11‬ (ESV‬‬)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Īs minutes turned to hours of waiting in the emergency room, I desperately desired to hear from God.

Proverbs 31 bible study