“When God Is Silent…Faith Is Strengthened”

James 1:1-12

God of Loveand God of Promise – Quiet our hearts so that we may listen to your still small voice and so that in hearing your Word we mayallow it to embody our thoughts in how we think and act in our daily lives – Use this time – Use us Lord Godto accomplish your good will – In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.

“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy…”

The main theme that our scripture text this morning considers is what I have named:“The Seasons of Our Lives and Our Faith Journey”, as this passage speaks to the times in our lives when we celebrate and the times when we are challenged by grief, tragedy and despair – times when we undergo trials and our faith is tested beyond measure and it “appears”that God is totallysilent – times when God is nowhere to be found. I chose this morning’s text from the Letter of James because it draws us back and affords us opportunity to see and hear God’s “seemingly” silent,but ever-so soft whispering voice helping us and encouraging us through such difficult times.

How might we, as a body of Christ, connect with James’s letter and what does this mean for each of us in our day-to-day living? Sisters and brothers in Christ – I stand here this morning with an understanding that this faith community, Central Baptist Church located on a small piece of God’s created earth in Jamestown Rhode Island is experiencing a time of transition, prayer and discernment in terms of the ministry this faith community offers and where God is leading this community here forward.CBC is experiencing a time of change – A time whenthis congregation is being called to take risks and step outside of what might be considered to be the community’s“comfort zone” – A time when transition is taking place – Taking risks can be scary and uncomfortable, but sometimes taking risks are necessary in order to be brought back to a quiet place so that we can make room or space to hear God’s whispering voice in silence.

Much of James’s letter deals with how God’s people – those with genuine faith, are to respond tothe trials they face and it shows you and me what tested faith “looks” like. Notice James’s choice ofwords to the 1st Century Christians here? He wrote: “…wheneveryou face trials…” These words are significant for us to pay close attention to because the key word in this passage is: “WHEN you encounter – WHEN you face trials” – There is no question that you and I are going to face situations where our faith is challenged and tested. The word is not “if” – but “when.”God NEVERpromised us that “all will be smooth sailing.” In fact, what Jesus DID promise is that … “in this world, you will experiencetribulation!” We WILL be tested – Trials are a certainty. So if our trials are certain, one might say:“Well… I must just grin and bear it.” However,

this sort of thinkingmight be the world’s attitude towards trials. In James’s text, we as followers of Christ, are encouraged to not take on this type of attitude and to respond to the trials and challenges that one faces in such a way that is exactly the OPPOSITEof the world’s view.

The writer of this text states that we are to “consider it nothing but joy” instead.This theme of rejoicing during times of in trials is found repeatedly throughout the scriptures. For example: Romans 5: “…we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” Again in I Peter: “In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found

to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Friends, the world / peoplerejoice when they have plenty. In other words, when circumstances are good– ALL is well!But, as we heard this morning, those who are followers of Christcan

rejoice even in times that they might consider difficult and during times when God’s voice “seems” to be “silent.” James’s words: “CONSIDER it nothing but joy” is a bit puzzling.The word“consider” here refers to one’s response of faith. When we experience times of trial and our faith is challenged, how can we even think such testing is nothing but joy? This type of testing does not “look” good – it does not “feel” good! However – this is where faith comes in, as it is by faiththat we choose to believe there is something good behind it – By faith we choose to believe something good is behind it – By faith… Let us consider Job 23 where Job wrestledwith the question: “Why God?” – “Why?” He could not find God in the midst of his pain. He could not hear God’s whispering voice and he felt abandoned by God. Job's inability to find God during difficult times and when his faith was being severely tested –thiswas Job’s biggest struggle. It was far more painful than the physical andemotional pain he was feeling. He wavered at times spiritually, but he endured the test of faith because he trusted in God even when – even when life madeabsolutelyNO sense. Job had a courageous faith in God and he learned to trust in God even when he did not understand. I inviteeach of us to consider Job’s example – take Job’s lead and give ALL that weighs on us to God by

saying: “God –here it is – You take control!” A pretty hefty challenge and risk, I would say!The most difficult spiritual truth in times of trial is: God sometimes … so it would “seem,” allows God’s people to suffer without explanation. As finite human beings, you and I do not always understand why God“seemingly” lets us suffer. Yet we know that God is all-loving, all-knowing, all-powerful.“Why?”However … another Truth is that God is “Mystery” andsometimes God's actions are beyond our understanding. We cannot always understand how God is working in our lives and whyour questions – our questions may very well remain UN-answered on this side of eternity.

Not too long ago, I viewed the film: “The Touch of the Master’s Hand.”It is a

storybased on a poem written by Myra Brooks Welch. This inspirational and captivating filmspeaks eloquently to the worth and potential of every human being and the worth of ALL of God’s Created. The film illustrates why ALL life is valuable and that anyone can find renewal and begin again with “The Touch of the Master’s Hand,”as it draws a parallel between what “seems” to be an old, battered, worthless violin going for a mere dollar or two at an auction until the touch of the Master violinist proves other wise and a wayward, dissolute individual who is losing his soul and is about to end his life.

At a time in this individual’s life, God “seems” to be absolutely nowhere to be found or heard … according to this individual. It is not until this man, who represents ALLof human life, is touched by his Loving Creator that he is given a whole new start in

life. This 20 minute film beautifully demonstrates the importance of God’s presence in human lives even if, at times it “appears” that God is Silent. Another response to the trials and testing of our faith we experience from time to time is that one wrongly believes that being a Christian exempts them from suffering – they question God's

goodness and love when theyexperience disappointments and despair. Faith in God does not prevent trials; faith in God gives us a Refuge– a Refuge friends in the midst of trials. Our all-powerful God could rescue us fromevery time of troubled waters we face, but sometimes God allows us to go through such troubled waters for reasons beyond our understanding. Even if we do not discover the reason for what we experience as suffering now … faith– faithallows us to trust that God is in control … even when we simply cannot make sense of it all. I propose this morning toconsider that when our faith is tested … and when we experience times of turbulence in our lives …This teaches us to trust in God for WHO God is … NOT for what God does.

I wish to put these questions before us? Have you or I ever felt that God was giving us the “silent treatment?”Why is it that God sometimes“seems” to be silent? Has the silence of God in your life, my life ever been unnervingly strong?I would venture that it is safe to say that most of us would have had an experience where we really needed God to give something to direct us …something / someone / some sign to let us know we are not alone and that God IS with us … But nothing happened. We have sought God in prayer … we have sought God in the reading of scripture and nothing seemed to happen – We have been so distressed to the point that we cry for God to bring us quick relief, but still … stillall we hear in reply is silence – a silence that can be so deafening it drowns out our thoughts EXCEPT: God is not listening? It can be very troubling. We have asked God to help us … and God did not “seem” to answer – We have asked God to guide us … and yet no clear direction comes our way – We just do not seem to hear anything and at that time… it is quite disturbing. It “seems” like God is silent about the things that are really important to us at that moment in time andALL we hear are our words offered in prayer echoing back without a reply!

Throughout the years in my personal life, my ministry and most especially in my ministry with persons who are dying …one of the most common experiences that people have is this: What does one do … when God does not seem to be talking? What does one do … when God “seems” to be silent? What does one do … when one faces the silence of God? Now … our faith has taught us that God is never silent – God is always speaking and is always available to speak.

But, there are times in our lives – during the “seasons of our faith journey” when God “seems” to be silent and we might feel like David in Psalm 28: “To You, O Lord, I call; my rock, do not refuse to hear me, for if you are silent to me, I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.” In other words, David is saying in this Psalm: I need you to talk to me God – I need you to speak to me – I am facing difficult times and I need you to talk, otherwise I will fall into the pit – the pit of grief and despair. Sound a little familiar?Let's just take a few moments to consider what happens when it seems like “God is Silent.” Most of us, I am sure,have had an experience where wereally needed God to give us some experience or someone to speak the words we needed at a given moment in

time to comfort us, but nothinghappened. When God “seems” to be silent … Some might feel depressedor feel like what’s the use and some might say: “I think I will just throw in the towel.” I know certainly that I am notexempt from anyone of these experiences. To listen to the whispering voice of God takes work – continuous work over an entire life-time! In my work as a Hospice Chaplain, I have learned some things about “Silence” – I havelearned how to just “BE” in the midst of troubled times when people who are experiencing their darkest days – their earthly days that is … Persons who are enduring a time, or a “season of faith” in their lives where God, for them, seems to have vanished without warning – God, for them, seems to be not uttering evenone sound – I have learned to just “BE” – to just “Be Silent” so Itoo can hear God’s whispers and offer words of comfort and hope – So I too can feel “TheTouch of the Master’s Hand” and be God’s earthen vessel for another human being.

{Steven’s Story}

In my Hospice ministry, I have heard time and time again: “I don’t know how you can do this…” My response ALWAYS – ALWAYS is: “By the grace of God, there goethe I and one day when I or a loved one in my life is in need – I pray that there will be someone there for me – that there will be someone there for them.If we were to give a thorough examination of the Book of Job … we would see that Job cried out to God asking God to answer and it wasn’t until after 37 chapters of silence – 37chapters of silence God finally answered Job, as God spoke to him out of a mighty storm to impress him with God’sinfinite power. In chapter 38, God answered Job with questions. Job,

like most of us, wanted to know the answers, but God refused to give himALL the answers, as God refuses to give usALL the answers. God assured Job, as God assures you and me that it is better to know God than to know ALL the answers. As humans, this is hard to accept. The key in Job’s story for us is that we do notneed to know the answers to the “Why” questions. All we need to know is that God is in control – God loves us no matter what and that God is with us ALL the WAY. What we need to know about our “seasons of faith” is that it is by such challenges and trials we will gain a new understanding of God – a newunderstanding of God.Amen?!One of the biggest

lessons that we can learn from when God “seems” to be “Silent” in our lives – when everything “seems” to bestripped away from our lives is that ALL we have – ALL we have is God and God indeed isenough! No matter how bad life gets, God’s love and grace are enough! God gives us God’s Presence, Word and people to help us in our trials and during times of challenge and THAT … My sisters and brothers in Christ, is enough! I encourage us to consider that when God “seems” distant – when God “seems”“silent”… that wefaithfully seek God and watch for and feel“The Touch of the Master’s Hand”– for God’s “seemingly” silent voice can be God’s invitation for us to press forward to seek God even more diligently.

I wish to offer for our reflection today and in the days ahead to consider about ways in which we can make room for God in our lives inorder to just BE – to “Be Still” so that we can hear God’s ever so soft, but consistent voice sustaining us through the “seasons of life” when our faith is tested and when God’s “seemingly”silent voice is louder than we could ever imagine. God is indeed aGod of Promise and a God of Pure Joy. Is not that ALL we need? – I not that ALL we need? Amen.

Sheila Singleton-Charron

Central Baptist Church

Jamestown, RI

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