What Feels Silent Is Not Abandoned

What Feels Silent is Not Abandoned

Scripture: "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

In the fall of 2013, I quit a job I had for over ten years to pursue opening a business.  I had spent months committing my way to prayer and taking steps to prepare.  When my future business partner and I were ready to launch the beginning steps of the business, I had to leave the safety and stability of my job.  Although I was scared, I knew it was where God was leading me.

We spent the next six months developing systems, turning policy and procedure revisions into the oversight agency, and waiting for our approval.  There were times we would wait weeks upon weeks for any responses to come back.

In the morning, after I had done some work, I would take a walk and listen to radio sermons.  When I was prayerfully considering this new venture, my sermons and daily devotionals were consistently about faith, committing our way to the Lord, and trusting Him.  Three months into waiting for our approvals, the devotions I read were good, but did not feel like they were speaking to me specifically.  The radio sermons too had changed. 

I found myself in a period of silence.  For over a year, I know God was talking to me and sending me encouragement to take steps forward and then it was like everything went quiet. Discouragement crept in quietly. It whispered, “What you’re doing isn’t working” “Nobody wants what you’re offering” “Maybe you should just give up”. It tried to convince me that we weren’t adequate to complete the task before us.

I started to question if what I heard in the beginning was the Lord, or if I went out in my own direction. The fears of what am I going to do if this doesn’t work, and how am I going to make a living, or what will my family think if I fail ran on a loop through my mind.

In Chapter 4 of 2 Corinthians, Paul is speaking to the Christian church in Corinth.  He is pleading with them to remain true to their beliefs even though they were experiencing so much opposition. He was reminding them even though they were facing undesirable circumstances and unpleasantness, they were not alone.

Sometimes, you will find yourself in a season of quietness. You aren’t sure if you are doing the right thing, going the correct way, or if you have lost direction.  In those moments, you can be at risk of Satan sending discouragement. When those intrusive and unwelcome thoughts creep in, press into God’s word. Ask Him to remind you of who you are and what His purpose is for you.

Reflection: God will never abandon us.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for being our constant. Thank you for giving me the promise of Your presence. When your voice seems too quiet for me to hear and discouragement creeps in, help me to seek you and find you. Amen.