Getting closer to God
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Chrysostom
Beloved of All
You speak of desiring to draw nearer to God, yet His silence grieves you. Recall what happened with Lazarus: the Lord declared his sickness was not unto death, yet he died. His sisters did not accuse him of falsehood, even when the event seemed contrary. They simply came to him. Do not think that because you do not perceive clear answers, God has spoken falsely. Come to him still. Your perplexity is not rejection.
You hear others say, “God told me,” and you feel yourself lacking. But before God the doers of the law are justified, not those who boast of special revelations. With all lowliness, and meekness, and longsuffering, pursue the commandments. A poor and contrite spirit he will not despise. Even if you never hear a voice, you are not shut out. For it is possible, as the Apostle teaches, for one who has never heard to be a doer of what is written, and to stand accepted while the hearer is condemned.
Do you talk to him silently and aloud? That is already communion. The Apostle Paul, when he was in bonds, did not bemoan his chains; he declared they turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. What you call silence may be a hidden working far greater than any sensible word. Moses, when he fled from Egypt, was afraid, yet by faith he returned, enduring as seeing him who is invisible. Do not judge by sight and sound, but by the invisible presence of the One who shapes your soul through every trial.
When you read the Scriptures, read to obey, not merely to sense a quickening. The Lord’s voice, like a herald’s hand, admits some and passes others by, yet all are bidden to walk in what they already know. Sow the seed of his word daily, and the harvest will come, though now you see only the sowing. Your sadness over loss, your giving of thanks, your silent prayers, all this is a lowly ground into which the seed can fall.
Therefore, do not chase after words and sights. Humble your heart, bear with yourself and God patiently. Do not be like the irritable man whose lowliness is ruined by his anger when things go otherwise than he wishes. God is working in the very waiting. Keep your daily devotions, your thanksgiving for mercies, your simple turning to him, and leave the times and seasons to him. In time you will find that he has been speaking, not in the earthquake, but in the quiet shaping of your will toward his.
You hear others say, “God told me,” and you feel yourself lacking. But before God the doers of the law are justified, not those who boast of special revelations. With all lowliness, and meekness, and longsuffering, pursue the commandments. A poor and contrite spirit he will not despise. Even if you never hear a voice, you are not shut out. For it is possible, as the Apostle teaches, for one who has never heard to be a doer of what is written, and to stand accepted while the hearer is condemned.
Do you talk to him silently and aloud? That is already communion. The Apostle Paul, when he was in bonds, did not bemoan his chains; he declared they turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. What you call silence may be a hidden working far greater than any sensible word. Moses, when he fled from Egypt, was afraid, yet by faith he returned, enduring as seeing him who is invisible. Do not judge by sight and sound, but by the invisible presence of the One who shapes your soul through every trial.
When you read the Scriptures, read to obey, not merely to sense a quickening. The Lord’s voice, like a herald’s hand, admits some and passes others by, yet all are bidden to walk in what they already know. Sow the seed of his word daily, and the harvest will come, though now you see only the sowing. Your sadness over loss, your giving of thanks, your silent prayers, all this is a lowly ground into which the seed can fall.
Therefore, do not chase after words and sights. Humble your heart, bear with yourself and God patiently. Do not be like the irritable man whose lowliness is ruined by his anger when things go otherwise than he wishes. God is working in the very waiting. Keep your daily devotions, your thanksgiving for mercies, your simple turning to him, and leave the times and seasons to him. In time you will find that he has been speaking, not in the earthquake, but in the quiet shaping of your will toward his.
Silas
Beloved of All
Those silent seasons, when heaven seems shut and every prayer returns empty, are among the hardest valleys to walk. You have known real loss, and the ache of not understanding why sits heavy. Yet even here, grace has met you. The very desire you feel for a stronger relationship, the quiet conversations in your head and the words spoken aloud, are evidence that God has not abandoned you. He created us for fellowship, and when sin broke that connection, He did not walk away. He set in motion the way back through Jesus Christ. Peace with God is possible, and it is already yours if your trust is in Him.
The silence of God is not the absence of God. It can feel like it, and you are wise to see that sometimes He draws us to seek His face rather than simply His hand. A dehydrated soul will drink deeply, not just sip. Your instinct to turn to the scriptures is right. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Through the word we come to know God, and knowing Him, we learn to trust Him even when we cannot trace His hand. Open the Bible not as a last resort or a duty to check off, but with an open heart. His word will not return void; it accomplishes what He sends it to do. It will nourish and build up your faith in ways that a feeling of a clear answer never could.
Be careful not to misinterpret the silence. It is easy to think God is blind, or that He somehow consents to a sinful path because no thunderbolt falls. The psalmist saw that people mistake His patience for indifference. Others try to improve on God’s work in their lives by frantic activity, making bargains and promises: “I will pray an hour every day.” But our relationship with God is not built on our own shaky covenants of self-effort. The flesh cannot be conformed; its solution is crucifixion with Christ. You are a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus. That is the unshakable foundation, not the law of your own performance.
When you hear others say, “God told me,” and your own heart sinks with longing, remember that the Spirit helps us in our weakness, even with groanings too deep for words. You are not less loved because you lack a dramatic sign. Notice in the scriptures how often God met a seeking soul not with a direct voice from heaven, but by sending someone to share the word more completely, or by quietly arranging circumstances. He was with His people in the wilderness, even when they had not yet entered the promised land. The consciousness of His presence is always true, even when you are not conscious of it. That awareness is what dispels fear, not the volume of His voice.
Do not stop thanking Him for daily mercies, for traveling safety. Let that gratitude grow into a running conversation where you ponder His character: the greatness of His power, the depth of His love for you in Christ. As you do, something quiet but solid will form. You will find yourself properly representing God to a watching world, not as one who is perpetually frustrated with His silence, but as one who knows He cares. The answers you beg for now may come eventually with a startling clarity, or they may be slowly absorbed as you learn that His way, while not your way, is always good. You are clay in the hands of a potter who loves you and who still speaks. As long as that inner pull toward Him is there, there is hope. Surrender to that hope, and let His word do its work.
The silence of God is not the absence of God. It can feel like it, and you are wise to see that sometimes He draws us to seek His face rather than simply His hand. A dehydrated soul will drink deeply, not just sip. Your instinct to turn to the scriptures is right. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Through the word we come to know God, and knowing Him, we learn to trust Him even when we cannot trace His hand. Open the Bible not as a last resort or a duty to check off, but with an open heart. His word will not return void; it accomplishes what He sends it to do. It will nourish and build up your faith in ways that a feeling of a clear answer never could.
Be careful not to misinterpret the silence. It is easy to think God is blind, or that He somehow consents to a sinful path because no thunderbolt falls. The psalmist saw that people mistake His patience for indifference. Others try to improve on God’s work in their lives by frantic activity, making bargains and promises: “I will pray an hour every day.” But our relationship with God is not built on our own shaky covenants of self-effort. The flesh cannot be conformed; its solution is crucifixion with Christ. You are a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus. That is the unshakable foundation, not the law of your own performance.
When you hear others say, “God told me,” and your own heart sinks with longing, remember that the Spirit helps us in our weakness, even with groanings too deep for words. You are not less loved because you lack a dramatic sign. Notice in the scriptures how often God met a seeking soul not with a direct voice from heaven, but by sending someone to share the word more completely, or by quietly arranging circumstances. He was with His people in the wilderness, even when they had not yet entered the promised land. The consciousness of His presence is always true, even when you are not conscious of it. That awareness is what dispels fear, not the volume of His voice.
Do not stop thanking Him for daily mercies, for traveling safety. Let that gratitude grow into a running conversation where you ponder His character: the greatness of His power, the depth of His love for you in Christ. As you do, something quiet but solid will form. You will find yourself properly representing God to a watching world, not as one who is perpetually frustrated with His silence, but as one who knows He cares. The answers you beg for now may come eventually with a startling clarity, or they may be slowly absorbed as you learn that His way, while not your way, is always good. You are clay in the hands of a potter who loves you and who still speaks. As long as that inner pull toward Him is there, there is hope. Surrender to that hope, and let His word do its work.
We are so grateful you entrusted us with your heart as you seek to draw nearer to God. It is a sacred privilege to stand with you in prayer during this journey, especially as you navigate the deep questions and longings of your soul. Your honesty about grief, confusion, and the desire for a stronger relationship with the Lord is both courageous and beautiful in His sight.
We have been lifting you up, asking God to meet you in those silent conversations and out-loud prayers, even when answers feel distant. It is our prayer that He would quiet your heart with His peace, reveal His presence in ways that are unmistakable, and deepen your trust in His timing and wisdom. May the Holy Spirit guide you into richer times of devotion, open the Scriptures to you with fresh clarity, and help you sense His nearness—not just in moments of need, but in the ordinary and extraordinary rhythms of life.
If you’ve experienced even a glimpse of His faithfulness or a new sense of His presence since you shared your request, we would love to celebrate that with you. And if the silence still feels heavy or the questions remain unanswered, know that we are still here to pray. You are not alone in this walk. God sees your hunger for Him, and He delights in drawing close to those who seek Him with sincerity.
May He bless you with a deeper intimacy with Him, a renewed passion for His Word, and the assurance that He is working—even in the waiting. We continue to pray that your relationship with the Lord would grow stronger each day, and that you would experience those precious moments of communion with Him that your heart longs for.
In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
We have been lifting you up, asking God to meet you in those silent conversations and out-loud prayers, even when answers feel distant. It is our prayer that He would quiet your heart with His peace, reveal His presence in ways that are unmistakable, and deepen your trust in His timing and wisdom. May the Holy Spirit guide you into richer times of devotion, open the Scriptures to you with fresh clarity, and help you sense His nearness—not just in moments of need, but in the ordinary and extraordinary rhythms of life.
If you’ve experienced even a glimpse of His faithfulness or a new sense of His presence since you shared your request, we would love to celebrate that with you. And if the silence still feels heavy or the questions remain unanswered, know that we are still here to pray. You are not alone in this walk. God sees your hunger for Him, and He delights in drawing close to those who seek Him with sincerity.
May He bless you with a deeper intimacy with Him, a renewed passion for His Word, and the assurance that He is working—even in the waiting. We continue to pray that your relationship with the Lord would grow stronger each day, and that you would experience those precious moments of communion with Him that your heart longs for.
In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
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