When God Is Silent: 4 Things To Do When Your Prayers Go Unanswered

There are seasons in a believer’s life when God is silent. Here are 4 truths to remember during the trials.

I never imagined the trials of special needs parenting… the endless days of uncertainty, weariness, puffy eyes and a heavy heart. The loneliness that results from feeling like not a soul in the world (or at least in our circle of friends and family) understands what we are going through. And I certainly never imagined hearing my confused sobbing-self tell my husband on multiple occasions that it feels like God has abandoned our family.

There are times in life when, even for those with an unshakable faith, God seems silent.

There are times when there is no light at the end of the tunnel and peace is stripped from your being.

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4 Things To Do When God Is Silent

So what should we do when God is silent? In my years of following Christ I have learned that the pain is never for nothing. He will always use the trials of living in a fallen world for our good and His glory if we are faithful to stay close to Him (Romans 8:28).

I do not have all of the answers and, honestly, many of our days are still flooded with trials, but God has graciously taught me a few things to do when it all begins to spiral out of control.

1. When God is Silent- Examine Your Heart

The first thing we can do when God is silent is to take a good look inward and examine the condition of our own heart.

Scripture makes it clear that God hears the prayers of His children. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer…”  (1 Peter 3:12 ESV). It is a great comfort to know that God delights to hear from us and is faithful to respond according to His sovereign will.

However, the Bible also makes it clear that there are times when those prayers may not be heard. It’s important to remember that our prayers may be hindered if we are:

Clinging to unrepentant sin (Psalm 66:18)

Selfishly seeking our own will instead of His (James 4:3)

In direct disobedience to His Word (Proverbs 28:9)

Dishonoring our spouse (1 Peter 3:7)

Lacking faith (James 1:6-8)

If you’re crying out to your Heavenly Father and feel as though He’s silent to your pleas, I’d encourage you to examine your heart.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Psalm 139:23-24

There have been times in my own life when I’m ashamed to admit that I couldn’t understand why my Savior felt so far away until I realized the glaringly obvious sin that I wasn’t quite ready to let go of. Or the one that I justified as innocent enough and never felt the need to humbly repent of.

Friend, God cannot be in the presence of our sin and if we are rebelliously stuck in unrepentance it will drive a wedge between us.

Related: RESTING IN JESUS IN THE MIDST OF LIFE’S STRUGGLES

We All Need A Savior

There is also one more reason that our prayers may be hindered. The second part of 1 Peter 3:12 goes on to say “But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” It is possible that our prayers may be hindered because we’ve never truly belonged to Christ.

The world around us encourages us believe that deep down we’re all pretty good people on a default path towards Heaven. God’s Word, however, says the opposite. It says that we’ve all sinned and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23). It says the wages of sin is death (6:23a). This “death” spoken of encompasses spiritual death apart from God, not simply physical death. 

A quick read through of the 10 Commandments reminds us that we’re far from the “good” people we like to imagine we are. This is where the beauty of the gospel shines brightest. Jesus’ sole purpose in stepping down from Heaven was to offer us a sweet gift of grace. 

“…but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 6:23b

A true understanding of our complete depravity before a holy God and the merciful act of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross can’t help but drive us to our knees in brokenness and repentance.

God will often use life’s trials to open our eyes to our desperate need for a Savior. For it is often only in these moments that we realize that all of life is out of our control but entirely in the hands of the One who spoke it all into existence.

If you have never truly repented of your sin and made the decision to follow Christ please do so today. Each day is a gift and one of these days will be our last. 

We can safely trust in Him.

2. When God is Silent- Remember His Faithfulness

It’s amazing how easily we can remember all of our unanswered prayers, but struggle to recall the countless times God graciously responded to our requests, and the blessings that are poured down on us.

I learned the importance of keeping a prayer journal many years ago. Flipping through prior entries of months and years gone by has a way of humbly reminding us just how good and faithful God truly is. It also reminds us that His ways are higher than our own and that He has His own timetable.

When God is silent we can look back on all of the times that He was faithful. He has never failed us in the past and He won’t forsake us now. One of my favorite authors and missionaries, Elisabeth Elliot, is quoted as saying “God never withholds from His child that which His love and wisdom call good. God’s refusals are always merciful — ‘severe mercies’ at times but mercies all the same.”

Study His Word and memorize verses on his faithfulness to keep you going on the difficult days. You will soon discover that He has not left you, but is walking beside you with an outstretched hand as you endure the trials of life.

3. When God is Silent- Look at the Example of Faithful Believers Who’ve Gone on Before You

God, in His goodness, provides tiny glimpses into the lives of faithful believers who’ve walked this path before us. Through recorded accounts in Scripture and biographies we learn that the Christian life is often marked by hardships and suffering.

And that it is through this suffering that our faith is most strengthened.

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:3-5

I often think of the apostle Paul and wonder if he ever doubted God’s silence as he endured countless beatings and imprisonments for boldly sharing his faith. But then I remember that every time there was an accusation against him God was working behind the scenes gathering a crowd for Paul to lovingly share the gospel with. Paul very clearly saw that his suffering was always for the advancement of the gospel. And he rejoiced.

Christian Biographies

This same ability to view the world through a gospel lens can be found in the lives of millions of faithful Christians throughout history. If you’re not familiar with historical missionaries, pastors, hymn writers, and persecuted believers I’d encourage you to read their stories as you have the time.

These men and women exuberated joy in the midst of the darkest of trials- all because of the hope they’d found in Jesus. Their remarkable true stories will encourage, convict, and propel you into action all the while reminding you to live for eternity. Below are a few of my favorites to learn about as well as some of their biographies and writings if you’d like to check them out as you have the time.

• Elisabeth Elliot- Becoming Elisabeth Elliot
• Jim Elliot- Shadow of the Almighty
• Amy Carmichael- A Chance To Die
• Lilias Trotter- A Passion for the Impossible: The Life of Lilias Trotter
• David Brainerd- The Life and Diary of David Brainerd: With Notes and Reflections
• John Newton-Out of the Depths
• Hudson Taylor-Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret
• Eric Liddell-For the Glory: The Untold and Inspiring Story of Eric Liddell, Hero of Chariots of Fire
• Charles Spurgeon-Spurgeon on Prayer & Spiritual Warfare
• Corrie Ten Boom- The Hiding Place
• Oswald Chambers- Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God
• Adoniram Judson-To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson

4. When God is Silent- Fight the Good Fight

When God is silent during difficult times we need to remember the truths of Scripture. Then rest in the fact that a glorious eternity spent with our Savior is on the horizon.

Idolizing comfort was never part of the plan. We are living in a broken world and Jesus Himself assured us that we will face trouble in this life (John 16:33, John 15:20). Instead of questioning God’s presence as we endure the trials may we learn to fight the good fight of faith and humbly rejoice.

Amazing Grace

It’s true that I never imagined the trials of life, but you know what else I never imagined?

I never imagined how these immense struggles would create an unbreakable bond for our family… how our marriage would be strengthened and my children would remain best friends despite the hardships.

I never imaged how the smallest things in life would result in joyous victories and how we would learn to appreciate the seemingly insignificant moments as we grasped the beauty of the sweet blessings they truly are. 

I never imagined the laughter and joy that would fill our home on a daily basis or how the near constant stretching would produce such endurance, empathy, and compassion, and teach us the true meaning of amazing grace.

When God is silent please rest in Him. His view of time, space, and eternity is not limited like ours and behind the scenes He is patiently working it out for our good and His glory. He can be trusted, sweet friend.

I never imagined the trials of life… but it is through these very trials that I am beginning to grasp the depth of God’s love and unending grace.