1. WHEN GOD IS SILENT: PSALM 83:1  Read Ps 83:1.  Has there ever been a time when God seemed silent for so long that you questioned your relationship with Him? Silent for so long that you begin to wonder if He was really there? Have you ever experienced times when God seems so distant, so far away that the joy of His presence seems lost to you?

2.  It is during the periods of silence – when our relationship with God seems empty of joy and excitement and we don’t know why – THAT WE HAVE TO WALK IN THE GUT-LEVEL KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THAT WE HAVE STUDIED OR LEARNED.  God’s silence is not like our human silence. ~ GOD DOES NOT CHANGE, NOR ARE HIS PROMISES MADE NULL AND VOID.

3. ~ Remember 2Tim 2:13.  THERE IS ALWAYS A REASON FOR GOD’S SILENCE A PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN.  In any intimate relationship there are always periods of silence. ~ God’s silence may be a test of our faith. ~ Isa 50:10

4.  IT IS THEN THAT WE MUST WRAP OURSELVES IN HIS BLANKET OF FAITH AND OUR CONFIDENCE IN HIS WORD. ~ We must steep ourselves in His Word; and cling to His promise. ~ CLING UNTIL HE BREAKS THE SILENCE!

5.  Madame Guyon: “I had a deep peace which seemed to pervade the whole soul, and resulted from the fact that all my desires were fulfilled in God. I feared nothing; that is considered in its ultimate results and relations, because my strong faith placed God at the head of all perplexities and events. I desired nothing but what I now had, because I had full belief that, in my present state of mind, the results of each moment constituted the fulfillment of the Divine purposes. As a sanctified heart is

6. is always in harmony with the Divine providences, I had no will but the Divine will, of which such providences are the true and appropriate expression.”  What M. Guyon learned, in essence, was that GOD WAS HER ALL IN ALL. ~ It was when she understood this that she began to walk in the totality of meekness.

7.  MEEKNESS IS NOT WEAKNESS... IT IS STRENGTH – HIS STRENGTH. ~ Meekness is accepting everything as coming from God, no matter what the immediate cause is, without murmuring, disputing, or retaliating... even His silence.  M. Guyon consecrated herself wholly to God; He could do with her as He pleased.

8. ~ She would no longer look to external experiences or internal joys. ~ Instead she would find rest in His sovereign dealings, whatever they were. ~ Feel it or not, see it or not, hear it or not, she knew the promise of Heb 13:5b-6.

9.  Sometimes you, too, must feel forsaken, but you are not. ~ HE WILL NOT LEAVE YOU; HE WILL NOT FORSAKE YOU. ~ Why? Because God will never abandon the work of His hands. (cf. Phil 1:6)  Salvation is of the Lord. ~ Eph 1:4

10. ~ THEREFORE, WHAT GOD BEGAN, HE WILL COMPLETE (Ps 138:8a).  GOD IS WATCHING OVER US. ~ Whether we feel His presence and His care or not, GOD IS THERE – maybe not manifesting Himself now but NEVER CEASING TO LOVE US WITH HIS EVERLASTING LOVE AND NEVER FAILING TO CAUSE ALL THINGS... EVEN HIS SILENCE... TO WORK TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD (Rom 8:28).

11.  EVEN WHEN GOD IS SILENT, HIS PURPOSE IS ALWAYS VICTORY NOT DEFEAT. ~ So we can trust Him, therefore, even in the silence.  Trouble is, sometimes we equate silence with separation, but with God, that can never be true. ~ YOU AND GOD ARE NEVER APART.  Silence – it’s possible. Separation – absolutely impossible.

12.  This is the assurance of faith: THAT NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM OUR HEAVENLY FATHER (Rom 8:38- 39). ~ See Paul’s question in Rom 8:35. ~ He answer, of course, is “NOTHING, AND NO ONE!” ~ God may sometimes be silent, but He is always ever present.