You are currently viewing I believe in God even when He is Silent

I believe in God even when He is Silent

  • Post author:
  • Post category:Blog

I was moved when I attended a Holocaust Memorial Service yesterday and especially with the closing song, ‘I believe’ by Mark Miller. I believe in the sun even when the sun is not shining. I believe in love even when I don’t feel it. I believe in God even when God is silent. These words originate from part of a poem by a courageous Jewish prisoner at a concentration camp in Cologne. The atrocities endured are unthinkable, yet the words are profound and inspiring. The person giving the address survived the holocaust and he only began speaking of what he experienced a few years ago since it was too painful.

I believe in the sun even when the sun is not shining

These three statements have great depth and can be considered in relation to God and sure and certain hope. We need the sun for light and warmth even when the sun does not appear to be shining. We need light even more than we need the sun. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Even though the moon has no light of its own it reflects the light of the sun and gives us some light even in the dark. The sun only exists because God created it and sustains it. In heaven there is no night, nor lamp, nor light of the sun for God gives them light.

Yet God entered our world bringing light into the darkness. Numbers 24:17 foretells a Star coming from Jacob, Malachi 4:2 speaks of the Sun of Righteousness, Luke 1:78 confirms the Dayspring from on high has visited us and Jesus declared at the Feast of Tabernacles whilst in the temple courts where giant menorahs lit the surrounding hills, “I am the light of the world, He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life (John 8:12; 9:3).”

We also have the Scriptures and God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105). Peter encourages us that, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; (2 Peter 1:19). Who is the Bright Morning Star? Messiah said of Himself, “I am the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star (Revelation 22:16b).”

I believe in love even when I don’t feel it

We need love although love is more than a feeling. Without the Bible we can try to describe love but the Scriptures help us to understand it. God is love. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down his life for one’s friends (John 15:13).” We are indebted to those who gave their lives that we might live in freedom and it is good that we should remember them and honour their sacrifice. Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah did even more than that and helps us to understand the depth of His holy love. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).”

The Ten Commandments were summarised by Jesus as the Greatest Commandment and the second is like it. The first four are directed towards God and the remaining six to others. You shall love the Lord your God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbour as you love yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Someone that genuinely loves God will obey His commandments and will treat others as they would want others to treat them.

I believe in God even when He is silent

How can one believe in a God they cannot see, feel or hear? Some say if only they could see Him they would believe, or why does God not speak to me? Where can hope be found? Firstly, creation testifies of the Creator. The psalmist instructs us, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork (Psalm 19:1).” Additionally Paul states, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, (Romans 1:20).”

God has given us a conscience; we all have a sense of justice and we need God to be able to objectify morality. Good laws will inevitably reflect God’s Law. When we move away from God’s law, humans are capable of indescribable evil because the human heart is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).

Faith in God should not be confused with feeling. Love exists even when we don’t feel it. God is love and faith is a gift from God. Genuine faith is neither farcical, nor flimsy or foolish, but is based on fact. The Biblical definition confirms, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).”

God has spoken but are we listening? “God who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:1-2).”

Some state ‘seeing is believing’ but believing is seeing. Philip the disciple wanted to see the Father but Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father (John 14:9).” Thomas saw Jesus after He rose from the dead but insisted on touching His hands and side to determine that it was Him. After Thomas felt His wounds, then He recognised Jesus as His Lord and God. But Jesus said to him, “Thomas because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29).”

Do you believe in God, do you have peace with God and are you trusting in Him?