Hearing Silence

Father,

It’s Monday and I’m hearing silence. I feel like your voice has been on mute for a while now. I can’t hear you and it unnerves me.

I know you have not moved. I know you have not shifted.

So, perhaps that means I have. Have I leaned in the wrong way? Away from the sound of your voice? Have I meandered to the edge of the path and your voice is muted by the foliage and brush between us? Father, I don’t like silence, and yet silence moves me to seek you. To call your name. To look for you. To seek you.

Father, I can’t see you today. I can’t hear you today. But as the sun still shines behind the cloud cover I know you are there.

Please today remove whatever is inhibiting me from hearing. Dig out my ears that I might hear you. Or enable me to interpret the silence, to seek you even more. To be desperate for you. To thirst for you. To hunger for you even more.

Father, I know the silence will not last forever. And I know my parched tongue will taste fresh water. I know the twisting of my hunger will be assuaged, but until then I pray you would help me to be faithful in the silence. Help me to trust what I cannot see—you.

My God, my God! Forgive me. Forgive me. Let your forgiveness roll over me like a river in flood season—overflowing its banks. Whatever hindrances are present I pray for their removal. For walls to be torn down. For barriers to be breached.

Father, please help me to find that sweet spot with you again…that place where your mercy dwells.

Oh, you and your mercy. How beautiful. How good.

Oh, you and your grace. How incredible. How deep.

Oh, you and your forgiveness. How encompassing. How complete.

Oh, you and your holiness. How powerful. How prevailing.

Oh, you and your love. How deep. How wide. How high. How long.

I praise you for it all. Glory to you, Father God! Glory to you. You are good. You are good. And worthy of praise. Worthy of being lifted up. Worthy of adoration. And I thank you. I thank you. I thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Amen