When God speaks through silence, we often believe He fails to speak at all. In fact, the opposite is true. Often, His greatest teachings come through times when we must learn to listen in new ways. I wrote this devotional many years ago, since then I have experienced similar instances twice. I pray God uses it to speak to your heart.

 

 

2MefromHim Devotionals

When God Speaks through Silence

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9a

Four and a half months trapped in a silent world with no hope of finding my way out. I tried to speak and no sound came out. I couldn’t whisper, couldn’t even call my husband. But God often speaks through silence.

The doctors found nothing, even with a laryngoscopy. One told me to force myself to talk normally and get over it! How’s that for encouragement and professional advice? I was losing hope.

Months passed. And God’s silence, as well as my own, dragged on. A notepad accompanied me everywhere, including the bank. My kids were away at college, so I learned to text message. E-mail was the preferred method of communication.

I had a Bible study to lead, a busy life with major commitments. Every woman in the Bible study had a chance to lead. I sat with my notepad and wrote notes if necessary. Several women discovered they possessed and undiscovered gift. We learned new ways to be vessels used by God through being emptied of ourselves. He didn’t need my voice.

God speaks through silence, but He also speaks into our silence. I prayed like seldom before without the distraction of phones and conversations. My inner spiritual life soared. God frequently gives object lessons to make us conscious of areas where we need to grow. God speaks when we are silent enough to listen.

Eventually God led me to a speech pathologist at our local university hospital. Her laryngoscopy revealed what no one else had seen, a condition treatable through therapy. She thought twelve weeks. I spoke the first time. God will not allow us to suffer one moment longer than necessary.

What situation in your life seems hopeless? What frightens you? Everything God allows in our lives is to be used for our benefit and His glory.

When we take our focus off the obvious and look for what God is saying, He will reveal His all-sufficient strength. Roadblocks in life are a prompting to seek God and His plans to thrive through trials and grow. When we give it to Jesus, He will never let us down.

© Copyright, Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, July 26, 2011, July 20, 2017

About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

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Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170