When God is Quiet

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I was asked to write about when God speaks or didn’t speak.  When I was contemplating what I would write, I never considered writing it about when God didn’t speak.  I wanted to share about the times that God did speak and was clear.  Who wants to focus on those times when we don’t understand what God is saying or when we are not sure why God is silent?  Then at 11:49 p.m. as I am trying to sleep, God brings to my mind my confusion about how He has not told me his big plan for my life.  I’m still waiting.  Then it gets even better, I make a bargain, “God, if you take away my headache, I’ll go downstairs and write the blog right now.” He did, so here I am.

Big Plan, No Precise Directions

God has a big plan for my life.  He has told me this through people who walk into my life for just a moment, tell me this glorious fact, and they are gone the next minute.  I have read in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord.”  He knows.  I don’t.  I used to think that God would one day reveal this master plan and everything would be so clear.  Now I don’t think that He will.  God has amazing plans, but I don’t need to know them.  I simply have to follow Him.

Ask, Seek, Knock

Why doesn’t God just tell me outright what He has in store?  There are so many reasons, but one is vitally simple.  I would follow the plan and forget about God.  How often do we get caught up in the planning, the excitement, and the doing and we leave God out of our grand adventures?  He wants me to learn that I need to seek Him above all else.  It’s not about the plans.  It’s not about the amazing things that He will one day use me for in his kingdom.  God’s it.  My asking, seeking, and knocking can’t be about finding my master plan, God must be the one for whom I am asking, seeking and knocking.  I will receive, find, and the door will be opened when I’m begging at Jesus’ feet for more of Him.

God Didn’t Speak

My natural inclination is to take charge and make things happen.  God has a plan?  Let’s get to it.  In fact, I have a 25 page women’s ministry plan all worked out.  I have been so tempted to just start plodding ahead, but God didn’t speak.  God is not telling me it’s time.  I would try and try to make a successful ministry for God, but I would fail without God.  Sometimes God doesn’t speak in a certain area because we aren’t ready and equipped for that particular work.  Waiting can seem like torture, but that’s because I still need to learn that God is the only goal.  My joy is found in God at all times even when He says, “wait.”

In the Quiet

My current “God assignment” should be so easy.  In the quiet, I should seek his face.  When God doesn’t speak, He’s asking us to spend time with Him, get to know him, and learn to be within his presence.  As a stay at home mother, as a military spouse, and as a blogger who gets distracted easily with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and every other social media, I fill the quiet.  I stuff it full!  Somehow, I think that these things will fulfill me and make me feel useful and filled with purpose.  Where did I get so confused?  Sometimes, the quiet needs to be reserved for God and not jammed full of my busyness.  I need sanctified quiet that is empty of distractions and set aside for my heavenly Father who eagerly desires to spend time loving me.

Et Toi?

That Jeremiah 29:11 verse that wasn’t just for me, it’s for you too.  God knows the plans He has for you.  Do you?  Maybe you are just figuring out that God has those amazing plans for your life.  Maybe you found your own plans first, but are realizing that God has other special plans for you.  Maybe you think that you have no plan because you are a SAHM (or SAHD) . . . God’s still has amazing plans for you even if it’s within guiding your special family.  If you are finding yourself “in the quiet,” consider leaving some of the quiet open for God.  Leave time open for the sanctified quiet that is empty of distractions and set aside for your heavenly Father who eagerly desires to spend time loving you.  He is quietly waiting for YOU!

Bless and be blessed!

Brooke

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I freeze like a Zoku Popsicle when it comes to bios.  Who am I?  I am a twenty nine year old gal who married her college sweetheart and, consequently, became a military spouse.  I am the mother of a wonderful three year old boy.  I am a daughter of God and a lover of Christ.  I am the owner of a cool little paper that says I have my Masters of Religion in Discipleship.  Currently, I live in Naples, Italy and am loving some European travels!  Check out my blog at http://www.designinglifeblog.blogspot.com