We all go through moments when we sometimes feel as though God isn't speaking. I've learned in those instances that we have to "connect the dots" in order to trace Him. That is one of the ways He "guides you into truth" (John 16:13). Using the Word of God as your measuring stick, if you look back over your life, I'm certain you will find examples of situational similarity and you'll notice a pattern. That pattern is indicative of God's activity in your life in the midst of apparent silence. God wants us to be so intimately aware of him that we not only know his voice but we can know his character and trace his movements in our lives even when we don't hear his voice.
Here is Bible for that: in the book of Esther, it is not recorded anywhere that God spoke to anyone and neither is any of God's revealed covenant names up to that point mentioned anywhere in the book. However, God's protective character through the orchestration of events can be traced throughout the entire book.
I believe the reason God wants us to connect the dots is because what He truly wants us to become is friends. You see, sheep will know His voice but friends will know His character. For example: there will come a point in time when my son will no longer need to hear my voice leading him in the right direction. If I have done my job correctly and lived my life right, hopefully my character will be enough to let him know what I would and wouldn't do under certain circumstances will be enough to paint a picture for him and eventually lead him in the right direction. Why? Because he knows me.
Although he will forever be my son, at that point he will have moved from being a sheep under my care to my friend. (SN: that's a parenting tip for parents with grown children. You don't "parent" them anymore, you befriend them but that's another blog post). The whole point of becoming intimately aware of another person is to get to a place where you don't just know their voice but you know their character. Knowing that helps you connect the dots in order to pick up a pattern and determine what they will do from what they won't do.
The pattern is not predictability per say but rather the pattern is merely an indication of who is behind what simply because you know the character of the individual in question. For example: Scripture says that "enemy comes not but to steal kill and destroy" (John 10:10) and also that he is the "father of lies" (John 8:44). So if you notice a pattern in your life that consistently has those themes showing up, that is not Godly character. That is how you use the Word of God as a measuring stick.
Apple founder and billionaire the late Steve Jobs said this about connecting the dots:
“You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever."
As a Kingdom man, my trust is in Jesus Christ and I believe that as long as I continue to connect the dots, observe the patterns and learn from them, I am fully confident and persuaded that He who began a good work in me is able to bring it to its completion (Philippians 1:6).
So take heart, not hearing God isn't necessarily sign of his inactivity, He is active whether you are aware of it or not. What it may mean is that you need to take a moment to look back over events in your life, find the principles in the Word of God associated, connect the dots, and trace God's character through His movements. If you pick up a pattern, chances are it will give you a little more clarity on what to do next because "knowledge comes easily to the discerning (Proverbs 14:6) and discernment comes through the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Darren Wilson is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur based in Saint Martin. He is the author of several books including “Designed for Purpose” that is available on Amazon. For more information, visit his website at www.darrenwilsonglobal.com or email him at info@darrenwilsonglobal.com.