The call to wait on god is an invitation to trust and hope. It entails believing that one day—even if today is not that day—he will make all things right.Cognitive vs behavioral learning in times of waiting, as we seek god in prayer, we must learn to listen to him as well as talk to him—to shut out the clatter and quietly wait as he unfolds to us his person, purposes, promises, and plan.Cognitive vs behavioral learning

In deserted by god? Sinclair ferguson discusses what our christian forefathers called “spiritual desertion”—the sense that god has forgotten us, leaving us feeling isolated and directionless.Cognitive vs behavioral learning but through faith, we can affirm god’s loving presence, even when he seems silent and we feel deserted. “draw near to god, and he will draw near to you” (james 4:8) is a promise god will not break, despite how we feel.Cognitive vs behavioral learning

A pastor friend told me about his experience after his teenage son’s death: “nearly every morning, for months, I screamed questions at god. I asked, ‘what were you thinking?’ and, ‘is this your best for me?’ and finally, ‘do you really expect me to show up every sunday and tell everyone how great you are?’ then, when I became silent, god spoke to my soul.Cognitive vs behavioral learning he had an answer for each of my questions.”

Trusting god when we don’t hear him ultimately strengthens and purifies us. If our faith is based on lack of struggle and affliction and absence of doubt and questions, that’s a foundation of sand.Cognitive vs behavioral learning such faith is only one frightening diagnosis or shattering phone call away from collapse. Token faith will not survive the dark night of the soul.Cognitive vs behavioral learning when we think god is silent or absent, god may show us that our faith is false or superficial. Upon its ruin, we can learn to rebuild on god our rock, the only foundation that can bear the weight of our trust.Cognitive vs behavioral learning his silence is a matter of perspective

There’s a sense in which god is never silent. He has already spoken in his word and by becoming man and dying for us on the cross, purchasing our eternal salvation.Cognitive vs behavioral learning this is speech, and speech is not silence! What we call god’s silence may actually be our inability, or in some cases (certainly not all) our unwillingness, to hear him.Cognitive vs behavioral learning fortunately, that hearing loss for god’s children need not be permanent. And given the promise of resurrection, it certainly won’t be permanent.Cognitive vs behavioral learning

Psalm 19:1 tells us the heavens shout about god’s glory. Romans 1:20 shows how clearly creation proves god’s existence. God speaks not only through his word, but also through his world.Cognitive vs behavioral learning when my heart is heavy, walking our dog maggie or riding a bike through oregon’s beauties is often better than listening to a great sermon or reading a good book.Cognitive vs behavioral learning

Still, when we can’t hear god, we can keep showing up and opening his word, day after day, to look at what he has already said—and done—and contemplate and memorize it until we realize this is not silence but is god speaking to us.Cognitive vs behavioral learning naturally, there remains a subjective sense in which we long to hear god in a more personal way. God spoke to elijah in “a low whisper” (1 kings 19:12).Cognitive vs behavioral learning

The problem with low whispers is they’re not easy to hear—especially when all around us the wind is howling! Why does god sometimes speak so quietly that it’s hard to hear him?Cognitive vs behavioral learning the answer may be to bring us to the end of ourselves. To prompt us to be still and seek him. And to build our faith and eventually speak more clearly or heal our hearing problem.Cognitive vs behavioral learning when life goes dark

Martin luther’s wife, katherine, saw him discouraged and unresponsive for some time. One day she dressed in black mourning clothes.Cognitive vs behavioral learning luther asked her why. “someone has died,” she said. “who?” luther asked. “it seems,” katherine said, “that god must have died!” luther got her point.Cognitive vs behavioral learning since god hadn’t died, he needed to stop acting as if he had.

Just because we can’t hear god exulting doesn’t mean he is not rejoicing over us with shouts of joy.Cognitive vs behavioral learning A blind or deaf child may not see her father’s face or hear his words, but can learn to sense his love and affection nonetheless. The blood-bought promise states that this brief life will be followed with an eternity in which his children “will see his face” (revelation 22:4).Cognitive vs behavioral learning my soul waits for god