Silent

I was recently challenged by a friend to think of a story of Jesus’ life and ministry that moved me, one that resonated with this season. ⁣

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I quickly thought of the story of Lazarus’ death. The reason why may surprise you. It wasn’t necessarily the resurrection of Lazarus or even Jesus’ response of weeping with his friends. It was Jesus’ delay that resonated with me most deeply.⁣

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Jesus knew what was happening and what would happen. He knew how His friends were suffering and grieving. But He chose to wait. ⁣

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It is a hard place to be when you’re struggling and you know God is good and sovereign and working and worthy of your trust. But you’re just waiting. And He seems silent.⁣

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Days after this conversation, I found this short book and devoured it in a couple of hours. These are exceptional sermons from Ligon Duncan on Psalm 88 and 89. He shares,⁣

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“We are poor interpreters of God's providence. While we may not understand what God is doing, we can always trust who he is. We must never interpret God's character by our circumstances. We must instead interpret our circumstances by God's character.”⁣

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In case you missed it. 𝗪𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲— 𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲. The world and what God is doing is not always as it appears to us. We must let who God is be the lens through which we see the waiting or the suffering in our lives. ⁣

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God may seem silent. But don’t stop crying out. It may seem like God is waiting to break through, all the while, knowing your sorrow. But don’t stop trusting Him. Tell Him that He feels silent. Tell Him of what hurts in this life. Immerse yourself in the Psalms. Resolve to have your life shaped by who God says He is, as revealed in His perfect, living Word, not by who you perceive Him to be. ⁣

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Because Jesus did seem to be silent. He waited. He seemingly failed His friends. But, He showed up. He wept with them. He received their sorrow and questions and pain with compassion and truth. He raised Lazarus from the dead. He showed up with a resurrection.Trust Him. #exhalecreativity #exhalenoticewriting #dayfive #somethingiread #notice