When God Is Silent
“My God, My God, Why Have You Abandoned Me?” ~ Matthew 27:46
Have you ever prayed with all your heart—desperate, raw, and hopeful—only to be met with silence? Have you ever cried out, “God, where are You?” and felt like the heavens were sealed shut? You’re not alone. And you’re not faithless for feeling that way. In fact, you’re praying the same prayer Jesus once did.
He wasn’t just quoting Scripture, though those words begin Psalm 22. He was giving voice to every human heart that has ever yearned for an answer in silence.
Just… silence.
It’s a silence many of us know all too well.
When we lose someone we love.
When a diagnosis changes everything.
When the door we prayed would open, it slammed shut.
We’re tempted to interpret that silence as rejection or absence.
But what if the silence of God is not a sign of His neglect, but of something deeper?
Remember when the storm tossed the disciples’ boat and Jesus was… sleeping? They panicked and cried out:
He woke, calmed the sea, and then asked them:
His silence wasn’t indifference. It was a call to trust.
Or consider when Martha and Mary sent word that their brother Lazarus was dying. Jesus waited two more days before going to them. By the time He arrived, Lazarus was dead.
Martha, heartbroken, said:
Read the full account in John 11:1-44
But Jesus had waited—not to punish them—but to prepare them for something greater. His silence made room for a miracle: the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Sometimes, the silence is the stage on which resurrection begins.
Time and again, silence wasn’t weakness. It was trust. It was a surrender. It was preparation for glory.
When your prayer echoes and seems unanswered—
Remember this:
Jesus has been there.
His cry from the Cross was met with silence, too.
But that wasn’t the end of the story.
There was a resurrection coming.
Could it be that what feels like abandonment is actually an invitation to deeper faith? Perhaps, just perhaps, God is preparing something far greater than you imagined, and the silence is not a pause, but a pregnant pause before new life begins.
But I know You are near.
Even if I can’t feel it, I believe You’re working.
Give me grace to wait, to trust, and to keep praying.
Let Your silence be my surrender,
And my surrender be my path to new life. Amen.
If you’ve felt the silence of God, take heart. Jesus has gone ahead of you, and He left a cry on the Cross for you to echo.
And He also left an empty tomb.
Hold on. Easter Sunday is coming.
Have you ever prayed with all your heart—desperate, raw, and hopeful—only to be met with silence? Have you ever cried out, “God, where are You?” and felt like the heavens were sealed shut? You’re not alone. And you’re not faithless for feeling that way. In fact, you’re praying the same prayer Jesus once did.
The Cry from the Cross
On that dark Good Friday afternoon at Calvary, Jesus hung between heaven and earth, forsaken by friends, scorned by crowds, and surrounded by darkness. And then came His cry—the fourth of the seven last words from the Cross:“My God, my God, why have You abandoned Me?”
He wasn’t just quoting Scripture, though those words begin Psalm 22. He was giving voice to every human heart that has ever yearned for an answer in silence.
The Silence That Hurts
Jesus’ cry didn’t bring thunder from heaven. No voice boomed back. No angel came to comfort Him.Just… silence.
It’s a silence many of us know all too well.
When we lose someone we love.
When a diagnosis changes everything.
When the door we prayed would open, it slammed shut.
We’re tempted to interpret that silence as rejection or absence.
But what if the silence of God is not a sign of His neglect, but of something deeper?
What the Silence Might Really Mean
Let’s look again at Jesus’ life.Remember when the storm tossed the disciples’ boat and Jesus was… sleeping? They panicked and cried out:
“Lord, don’t You care that we’re perishing?” ~ Mark 4:38
He woke, calmed the sea, and then asked them:
“Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
His silence wasn’t indifference. It was a call to trust.
Or consider when Martha and Mary sent word that their brother Lazarus was dying. Jesus waited two more days before going to them. By the time He arrived, Lazarus was dead.
Martha, heartbroken, said:
“Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
But Jesus had waited—not to punish them—but to prepare them for something greater. His silence made room for a miracle: the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Sometimes, the silence is the stage on which resurrection begins.
Not the End, But the Beginning
Even when Jesus stood before Pilate, falsely accused, He remained silent. Not because He had no defense, but because He was allowing a deeper plan to unfold.Time and again, silence wasn’t weakness. It was trust. It was a surrender. It was preparation for glory.
What About You?
So when you feel abandoned—When your prayer echoes and seems unanswered—
Remember this:
Jesus has been there.
His cry from the Cross was met with silence, too.
But that wasn’t the end of the story.
There was a resurrection coming.
An Invitation, Not Rejection
Could it be that in your life, right now, the silence you hear is not God saying “no,” but God saying:“Wait. Watch. Trust.”
Could it be that what feels like abandonment is actually an invitation to deeper faith? Perhaps, just perhaps, God is preparing something far greater than you imagined, and the silence is not a pause, but a pregnant pause before new life begins.
A Prayer to Whisper in the Silence
Lord, I don’t hear You right now.But I know You are near.
Even if I can’t feel it, I believe You’re working.
Give me grace to wait, to trust, and to keep praying.
Let Your silence be my surrender,
And my surrender be my path to new life. Amen.
If you’ve felt the silence of God, take heart. Jesus has gone ahead of you, and He left a cry on the Cross for you to echo.
And He also left an empty tomb.
Hold on. Easter Sunday is coming.
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