When God is Quiet

I have a Pinterest board called “Quotable” where I pin quotes which strike me and cause me to think.  One of the recent quotes is this, “Sometimes when you wonder why you can’t hear God’s voice during your trials remember the teacher is always quiet during the test.”

I actually printed it and have it on my desk.  I keep reading it and turning it over in my brain to study it from various perspectives.

Obviously it struck me because I am not hearing God right now.  My trial is that I am not hearing God right now as I struggle through some doubts and concerns.

At first the quote reassured me: God is with me, I just can’t hear him and that’s fine.  I have faith and can move forward in that faith, keeping to my plan and waiting for him to tell what’s next.

Except, as I thought about it more deeply and honestly the truth became clear.  I can’t hear God because I am not listening to him!  I thank him, I praise him, I ask him to heal those I love, to comfort those in need, to forgive me of what I’ve done wrong, and then I go about my way.

Did I pray?  Yep, check that off my “to do” list.

Did I listen?  Nope, too busy, there's this list of people to pray for and things to pray about and then I’m on to the next thing.

The problem with that is it only works for so long.  It works until I realize that I am not fully present to God and I am cheating God and myself.

And we both deserve better.

Copyright 2014, Deanna Bartalini