Nuggets of knowledge article 12

Blessed morning everyone and welcome to yet another installment of the Nuggets of knowledge series
here at metanoiameans.com!

today we will be discussing something that all of us as believers in and
followers of our lord Jesus Christ deal with at one time or another: God seeming silent or distant.

I had an interestingly difficult week this week in terms of what’s going on in the spirit concerning my
future.

That struggle is what brought forth the idea for today’s nugget of knowledge.

Now, I am not
perfect in ANYTHING but especially not matters of faith and the spirit. I mess up all the time as we all
do.

When I do, sometimes it results in me feeling distant from God or thinking that he is being silent.

I decided to write an article about this because I want anyone who is reading this to know that not only are
you not alone but, if you do truly follow Jesus and seek the face of God, He is with you.

Even if you can’t feel His presence or hear His voice, He Is With you.

DO NOT let the enemy convince you otherwise.

Our Lord is with us.

We just need to LEARN his voice and TRUST him.

This article is actually coming at a very significant point in this series. Last article was about the importance of prayer in the life of a follower of Christ.

Why? Because it is one of the ways we build a
relationship with our loving God. If we don’t strive to build that relationship with him, it will constantly
feel like we are distant from him and he is being silent when we call out to him.

Based on what I have
observed not only in my own life but also out in the Christian community, a lack of a relationship with
God is why many feel he is being silent towards them. through building a relationship with him, we learn
what his voice sounds like, we learn his likes, we learn his dislikes, we learn his will for us, we learn the
plan he has for us and we become very cognizant of our place in His universe, His reality, His creation.

From what I have seen, building a relationship with God is similar to the way we build relationships with
those around us.

If we truly care about someone and want to build a relationship with them, we make
every effort to get to know them. we do everything we can to let them know they matter to us and that we
want them to be a part of our lives. In those ways, building a relationship with God is no different.

Once we build that relationship and we decide to spend our lives maintaining it on our end–because He will never falter, fail us, or abandon us–we will begin to be able to hear Him when He speaks to us.

Do I mean
that we will audibly hear his voice?

No. but we will know when he is speaking through things, situations
and people to us.

The most important tool that God gives us in regards to following his voice is our discernment which is
an ability that the Holy Spirit places upon us. That is the capability to distinguish between the voice of
God, the voice of the enemy and our own voice.

It is important to remember that like a blade of any kind,
the discernment that we are given must be sharpened and refined before it can be of any use or benefit to us.

How do we sharpen it? We READ THE BIBLE and STUDY THE SCRIPTURES WITHIN IT.

We also
pray about anything we might think is from God.

If we have the connection with the Holy Spirit that we
are meant to, he will tell us whether or not something was from God.

I will be the first one to tell you that I do not read the bible as much as I should. I try but I am inconsistent with my reading. I will also tell you that

because of this, I have gone through many unnecessary instances of uncertainty as far as something I thought God might be telling me to do or not to do.

As I have tried to stress in other articles of this series,
PRAYER is just as important as STUDY. I am a tiny bit better with my prayer habits than my reading habits but NEITHER OF THEM ARE WHAT THEY SHOULD BE.

Because of this, I do not hear from our Heavenly Father as much as others in my position may be able to, nor do I hear from him as much as I want to.

Because of my own lackadaisical approach to reading scripture and prayer, my discernment, given by The Holy Spirit, is not as sharp as it could be and it is easier for me to fall for a trick¹ of the enemy than someone else that is rooted deeper in BOTH communication and relationship with God and can hear him with more clarity.

I am not telling you any of this to ask for pity of any kind but rather to hopefully
persuade you into looking at your own prayer and reading habits and making changes as they may be
Needed.

The lack of scriptural understanding and consistent prayer are not the only reasons God may be silent in
any particular moment there are actually quite a few of them but for this article I will focus on
SPIRITUAL TESTING as the next reason.

But what does that mean, to be tested by God?

Being tested by God involves encountering situations that challenge your faith, character, and obedience
to Him, often with the intention of refining and strengthening your relationship with God.

These tests,
whether through trials, temptations, or other difficult circumstances, are opportunities to demonstrate your
trust and loyalty to God, ultimately leading to growth and maturity in your faith.

Purpose of Testing:
God’s purpose in testing is not to trap or punish, but to reveal what is truly in your heart, to reveal your
loyalties and motivations, and to help you grow spiritually.

Testing vs. Temptation:
While tests can involve temptations to sin, they are not the same thing. God may allow situations to arise
where the devil tempts you, but God himself does not tempt or test in the sense of leading you to sin.

Examples of Tests:
The Bible provides numerous examples of God testing people, such as Abraham being asked to sacrifice
Isaac, Moses facing the burning bush, the Israelites crossing the Red Sea, and Jesus being tempted in the
Wilderness.

Responding to Tests:
James 1:2-4 encourages believers to consider tests as occasions for joy, knowing that they lead to
steadfastness and maturity. Persevering through trials with faith and trust in God is seen as a path to
spiritual growth and ultimately, a crown of life.

Importance of Obedience:
God’s tests often reveal whether we choose to obey his word and wisdom or to follow our own desires.

Given how important and pivotal God’s testing of his children is, one could be forgiven for asking why he
would remain silent during any of his tests.

To partially answer this, I submit an old Christian saying.

“The teacher is always silent during a test.”

The saying “the teacher is always silent during the test” is often
used in a religious context to explain why God might seem silent during difficult times. It’s a
metaphorical way of saying that God’s silence doesn’t mean He’s absent or uncaring, but rather that He’s
allowing us to face challenges and grow in faith without constant guidance.

The analogy emphasizes that
the “test” of life is where we learn and grow, and sometimes the teacher (God) needs to remain silent to
allow the student (us) to find their own answers.

The Teacher-Student Analogy:
.The saying uses the image of a teacher who is usually helpful and supportive, but remains silent during
an exam. This silence isn’t a sign of abandonment, but rather a way of assessing what the student has
learned and allowing them to apply their knowledge without external help.

God as the Teacher:
God is seen as the ultimate teacher, guiding and nurturing individuals. The “test” of life refers to the
various challenges and trials we face, which are seen as opportunities for growth and strengthening our
Faith.

God’s Silence:
When God appears silent, it doesn’t mean He’s not listening or caring, but rather that He’s allowing us to
face the test on our own. This silence can be difficult to understand, but it’s meant to be a period of
growth and reliance on our faith.

Learning and Growth:
Just as a student learns by working through an exam independently, we grow in our faith by facing life’s
challenges and seeking solutions within ourselves and through our understanding of God’s will.

In essence, the saying “the teacher is always silent during the test” serves as a reminder that God’s silence
during difficult times is not a sign of abandonment, but rather an opportunity for growth and learning.

It
encourages us to trust in God’s plan and to seek guidance and strength from him through prayer, the
reading of scripture and seeking sound advice from trusted church leaders along with fellow followers of
Christ.

As his children, we are supposed to seek him in all things. Good, bad or indifferent we are
supposed to ask him how we are to act.

Remember that God is all knowing. He knows what will go well
for us and what won’t.

He knows what trials we must go through to grow. He knows the solution to all of
our problems and dilemmas, there is absolutely nothing that he doesn’t know.

You very well COULD be going through a test just because he wants you to know that he is there for you and that he has all that you
Need.

The test could literally be him showing you that you are taking too long to ask him for help.

In closing if you want to know why God seems to be silent at any particular moment, look at yourself before looking at him.

are you seeking him?

are you praying and seeking his face?

Are you reading his word to learn his voice?

All of these things have bearing on whether or not you hear his voice. Remember
though, that our God will never falter, fail or abandon us.

We are the ones who will fail and turn away from him.

Finally, I encourage you all once again to assess your situations.

Are you praying sufficiently?
Are you reading your bible enough?

And always be aware that any situation could be a test in which God
is looking for you to learn or realize something.

May our Heavenly Father bless you all.

Thank you for reading, see you again soon!

mb

1. Temptation:
   The devil tempts individuals to sin, as seen in Jesus’s encounter with him in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11) and in the deception of Eve (2 Corinthians 11:3). 
   Deception:
   Satan uses lies and false information to mislead people, often disguised as truth or subtly altering the truth (2 Corinthians 11:3, 4). 
   Manipulation:
   The enemy tries to control people’s thoughts and actions, either through fear, intimidation, or by appealing to their desires (1 Peter 5:8, Romans 11:36, 9). 
   Distraction:
   Satan attempts to divert attention from God and spiritual matters, focusing on worldly concerns and pleasures (Ephesians 6:12, 7). 
   Accusation:
   The devil accuses believers and casts doubt on their character and worth, often causing them to doubt their faith and relationship with God (Revelation 12:10, 8).
   False Teachings:
   Satan can promote false doctrines and philosophies that contradict God’s truth, leading individuals astray (2 Corinthians 11:3, 3).
   Pride and Arrogance:
   The devil can tempt individuals to pride and arrogance, causing them to reject God’s authority and humble themselves (James 4:6, 8). 
   Fear:
   Satan uses fear to paralyze people, preventing them from taking action or making decisions that are aligned with God’s will (1 John 4:18, 17).
   Disunity:
   The enemy can sow discord and division among believers, weakening their faith and undermining their unity (Ephesians 4:32, 20).
   ↩︎