16. In the times when I don’t hear Jesus, I’ve learned that He is still with me, loves me, and is inviting me to learn new ways of relating to Him that grow our relationship.
(Before looking at the questions below, take a few minutes to think about this statement. Invite Jesus to speak to you about what He would like you to notice.)
Why might a person think that if they can’t hear Jesus He must not be present? Have you ever thought this way?
In what sense might it be true that Jesus is still very present with us even when we can’t hear Him?
How could you begin to trust the “silent presence” of Jesus?
What do you need from Jesus to help you trust that He is with you, loving you, even when you don’t hear Him?
We have proposed that God does in fact speak to us, that He speaks in many ways, and that along our journey we learn how to hear the Father, notice His Spirit, and recognize the Shepherd’s voice. But why is it that sometimes, despite effort and desire, we don’t hear God? Are there times when God doesn’t speak? The answer to this question is a qualified yes.
In our journey of learning to hear God, we tend to stop moving and step off the trail. There are two points at which we are especially prone to do this: at the beginning of the journey, especially if it is hard; or, perhaps more unexpectedly, at places on the journey that we find especially satisfying.
The statement we’re unpacking here is mostly about this second way in which we cease to hear God. It typically happens after we have learned to hear God and are enjoying our relationship with Him and experiencing Him in a satisfying way. The classic saints of the faith point out that we can become more attached to the feeling we experience in conversing with God than with the God who gives us the feeling. To help us with this, in His gentle, loving, way, God may remove His voice for a season. His goal is to mature us so we can relate to Him in a more adult manner. Consider this example.
A small child learns that they need to check with parents before going outside, choosing what to wear, and so on. As the child grows, however, there comes a point where they no longer need the parents’ minute-by-minute guidance. This may be similar to how God views us as we learn to hear Him speak.
God desires that we grow into responsible spiritual adults. James says to “let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete” (1:4). I believe James is referring to our emotional and relational maturity, which is what our heavenly Father desires for us. The advice to persevere is appropriate for us when we find that God isn’t talking to us like He used to.