When God Seems Silent

In Scripture, when God is silent, it is often punitive. In other words, God's silence is often a response to the rebellious and disobedient nature of His people.
But not always. As I read Scripture it occurrs to me that there are also times that God is silent as He brings His people through the trials of life. I've seen this most often in the Psalms.
Why do you think, when it seems like we need Him the most, God is silent? I think the answer to this question can also be found in the Psalms. As I read the Psalms, I notice that the authors tend to use God's silence as a time for personal reflection, petition, crying out and seeking Him. I also noticed the sheer determination on the part of the author to recognize God for who He is, praise Him for what He does, and remember Him for what He has done.
It often seems that when we need God most, even in His silence, that is the time He is not only helping us, but even carrying us.
The "Footprints In The Sand" story illustrates this. Of course the story is fictional, but I believe it describes a spiritual truth. In fact, I wonder if this fictional character sensed a certain silence on the part of God during his times of trial. I know I have. Here is the story. I added two Bible verses at the end that I think connect.


Footprints in the sand

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: One belonging to him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it.
"LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me."

The LORD replied,
"My precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

"The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as He did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place."
Deuteronomy 1:30-31

"Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron."
Psalm 77:19-20