Have you ever felt like God was silent in the midst of your hard circumstances and wondered why?
As a parent caregiver on the special needs journey, so often we encounter hard, heartbreaking, and even seemingly impossible moments in this life. Our family has encountered many moments like these over the years, but there was a particular season when Abbey was still small that things were especially difficult, something I’ve written about in previous posts. It was in 2011, just a couple of years after Abbey’s diagnosis of Autism, and after an extremely difficult year in school. Our 1st grade daughter was absolutely climbing the walls and our whole world as a family was imploding.
The thing I remember most about that time was the silence, the absolute silence from God in the midst of our struggle. I remember shaking my fist at heaven and crying out in agony, “Why don’t you do something?!”
“Can’t you see what we’re going through?!”
“Don’t you hear me?!”
“Do you even care?!”
“Where are you?!”
And with each cry – SILENCE.
Thankfully, shortly after this I was awakened to the truth. God was there of course. He did see me. He did hear me. And with each cry of mine over my daughter He had cried alongside me – his own daughter. He had brought friends and family to surround us with his tangible love and support. And in His perfect time, He had brought breakthrough and next steps to see us through. He was silent yes, but He was not absent. And most importantly His silence had not meant His lack of love.
Not long ago I was listening to a podcast interview with the country singer Randy Travis and his wife, Mary. They were sharing about his stroke and the subsequent struggles they had walked through because of it. Then Mary said something that resonated deep into my soul. She said, “You know, during the test the teacher is often silent.”
Wow! Yes, a good teacher is often silent during the test. Yet that doesn’t mean that they do not care. On the contrary they care very much. They have prepared their students the best they can for the test that lays ahead. They have provided their students with an environment in which to take the test. And they, while sitting silently at their desks, are often silently cheering their students on and supporting them in any way they can to be able to get through the test.
If you are in the midst of HARD circumstances right now, I want to encourage you to hold onto this one true HOPE: God has not forgotten you nor has He abandoned you. Just remember that, “During the test the teacher is often silent”. He hears you. He sees you. He knows what you need. And most of all He loves you. And in the silence, He is present and working in all things for your good. He has your back. At times He is at work building strength and resilience. At times He is bringing answers and provision. And always He is faithful to see you through.
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” – Deuteronomy 31:8
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalms 34:18
