As we move through the 24 hours of every day, our priorities become fixed on the demands of whatever shouts the loudest. Although we have our pre-planned agendas, the squeakiest wheel usually gets its oil, and there isn’t a day without abundant squeaks.
Last week while walking Jack, I marveled at the kiwi green dominating the neighborhood. Gardens were shouting, “It’s spring, and I’ve come back to life!” Yards were in that magical window of lush beauty when greenery is sturdy and stands tall.
However, there was one plant Jack and I passed daily that was dead, a cluster of lifeless sticks. I wondered why the gardener hadn’t dug it out. Today, though, after a week of warm weather and lots of rain, it had suddenly come to life, putting on the brilliant green of spring. It hadn’t been dead after all.
Most of us travel through dry, lifeless periods with God when we pray but feel the relationship has died. Answers don’t come, and we have the sense he’s turned his back on us. Well-meaning friends say, “Don’t worry. He hasn’t turned away.” But we can’t shake that feeling.
The scriptural “Doubting Thomas” had heard the rumor that Jesus, who was dead, had come back to life. But he couldn’t have a relationship with someone he thought was lifeless until the two of them talked face-to-face.
Many of us feel that same way. We’re jealous of the disciples who got to hear Jesus teach in a human voice. Even in the Old Testament, God’s voice factored into many of his relationships. Adam and Eve got to converse with him daily and apparently so did Noah, Moses, Job, Abraham and others. Unable to hear his voice, we sometimes think we’re on audio-blackout from God.
What we have to remember is that not hearing him doesn’t mean we’re without his words. We have our Bibles, complete with multiple versions and scholarly commentaries. (I can see 29 copies of God’s Word right now, from where I’m sitting.)
None of us are in a black-out.
We may come to dry places in our spiritual lives, but it helps to know Jesus did, too. He was in an arid Middle Eastern desert for over a month, assaulted by evil the entire time, possibly feeling an audio black-out from his Father. So what did he do? He opened his ears to hear God through Scripture, then made sure the devil heard it, too.
Two other times, once in a garden and once on a cross, he prayed, but God didn’t respond. The spiritual parching of those moments nearly overwhelmed him.
It’s important to notice, however, those dry spells didn’t last. They had a beginning and an end, which is still true today. If we can’t hear God in the moment, we should believe we soon will.
The dead plant in my neighborhood seemed hopeless, but when God ended its dry spell, life burst forth.
“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back…” says the Lord your Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:7,8)
Hi Margaret,
Great post- I am in the midst of moving some of that greenery around my yard… if the weather would cooperate.
There simply is no substitute for the Word of God. Paul tells us in Romans that faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God. He may not physically show up at my desk, but His voice in those pages. I know my relationship wanes when I get off track the discipline of meeting every morning around The Scriptures. Then after a while the Holy Spirit whispers and calls me back and I get a fresh wind. While He is away in a far better country preparing a place for us, He has written His letter to be read over and over.
Love,
Terry
Great post! I am sure we all go through times of wondering, “God, where are You in all this?” His voice is the Word of God, available every moment.
There is a song I sing which quotes Isaiah 54 – it ends with verse 10 “For the mountains shall depart, and the earth be removed. Yet My kindness shall not depart from thee.”
I remember a period of ‘dryness’ and wondering if God was hearing anything I prayed (even tho in my heart I KNEW He did)…and I was reading a book – I cannot recall -for sure – but I think it was by Charles Stanley – and he said “when you feel like you’re in the middle of the desert and God is not hearing you, or speaking to you – ‘be still and KNOW that He is God” and tho He is silent – that’s when He’s holding you the closest”. I’m not certain CS was the author….but I do know it was one of the many good authors I’ve read and just what I needed at that time. It gave me a new perspective of my relationship to Him and feeling of ‘belonging’ to Him. When those times come, I’ve learned to pray “Father, show me your purpose in this period of time in my life” It never ceases to amaze me the things He will share with us when we ask – in Jesus’ name.
This, too, shall pass, Midge.
Another Spring has arrived and new life comes to everything – humans too.
God Bless.
Thank you Margaret, your post always minister to me but especially this one. I’ve been a bit overwhelmed today and this one and the responses have really helped. God may “seem” far away but He never leaves, He promised!!He is here!
I haven’t made a reply for a long time, but this entry of yours, like most, strike a chord that pushes me to respond. I meet tomorrow morning with a handful of women who have been waiting a long time for answers from the Lord and sometimes need encouragement for “dry times” This surely reminds us that when things look lifeless- we have no idea what the Master of life is doing to produce life where it looks hopeless. thanks
This post was such a blessing to me. I am reading it a few days late, but this is when God knew I needed to read it. Praise Him!