Silenced

January 11, 2012

His lips fell silent today. For almost 30 chapters a man named Job and his three friends debated. They argued. They questioned. They looked for answers but found none.

Today Job fell silent. He defended his integrity one last time and then, “The words of Job ended.” (Job 31:40) Just like that, Job stopped talking. He stopped asking questions. He stopped seeking answers. In what was probably utter hopelessness, he shut his mouth.

To summarize the past 30 chapters of the Book of Job:
Job had it all.
Job lost it all.
Job worshiped.
Job whined.
Job wrestled with God.
Job wanted to die.
And now, in silence Job waits.

Why is it so hard to fall silent before God? Even when my lips are still, my heart and my mind continue to race. They continue to wrestle. They continue to contend with the Almighty.

I think it’s interesting that although God had the answers all along, it wasn’t until Job closed his mouth that God actually began to speak. It’s almost like God was waiting for Job to fall silent so He could speak truth to him.

I’m thinking there is a lesson I need to learn here. So many times I allow my words to fill the space between me and God. I want God to fill the space between me and Him.

When I pray I wonder if God is up in heaven with his arms folded saying, “Are you done yet?” Not that God doesn’t want to hear my prayers, He does. He’s probably just wondering when it’s going to be His turn to talk.

Like Job, I don’t usually fall silent until I’ve exhausted myself. And even then the quiet only lasts long enough for me to catch my breath. Job’s silence lasted long enough for a fourth “friend” to add to the conversation. Then . . . finally . . . it was God’s turn.

A part of me wants to hurry up and get to chapter 38 where God answers Job out of the whirlwind. The other part of me wants to sit here in the quiet for a minute. I want to hear what silence sounds like. I want the space between me and God to be filled with Him.

So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to sit here for just a minute and listen to the silence. I wonder what it is that God wants me to hear . . .

“My soul, wait in silence for God only,
for my hope is from Him.”
Psalm 62:5

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