During the dark days of World War II, in the ruins of a Nazi concentration camp, searchers came across words scratched on a wall. They were written by an anonymous prisoner, most likely a Jew, who endured unimaginable suffering. The inscription read:
“I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining.
I believe in love, even when it is not shown.
I believe in God, even when He is silent.”
In moments of struggle and sorrow, God’s silence can feel overwhelming. Today’s world is filled with conflicts, where everyone insists on being heard. In such a noisy setting, divine silence may seem like God is distant, uninterested, or even powerless. The Psalmist’s cry in Psalm 83:1, “O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!” echoes the feelings of those who believe they have been abandoned, where justice seems absent and injustice prevails. Faith is shaken when evil appears to flourish while goodness is ignored. In this situation, many ask: Why does God not intervene? Why is He silent?
The Old Testament gives us several examples of people wrestling with God’s silence. In Habakkuk 1:2, the prophet cries: “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you ‘Violence!’ and you will not save?” In Psalm 44:23–26, the community laments: “Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not cast us off forever! Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? For we sink down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. Rise up, come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!” In Lamentations 3:44, the writer mourns: “You have wrapped yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can pass through.” God’s silence is painful to human hearts.
The first thing to understand is that feeling abandoned by God is often a misunderstanding. Silence does not always mean neglect; it can also have other meanings. Instead of seeing silence only as something negative, we can view it as an invitation to a deeper faith. People often project their own experience of silence onto God. While feelings of despair are real, it is not right to conclude that God is absent or does not care.
Silence can be understood in many ways, and often silence itself speaks loudly. Between friends, silence can reflect trust. Between husband and wife, silence may show closeness more than words can. While words are necessary, silence too can be a language. In the same way, God’s silence is not proof of His absence but an invitation to connect with Him differently. Rather than expecting loud answers, silence encourages us to notice God’s quiet presence in difficult times. In silence, God speaks.
This way of seeing silence as God’s language comes from Christian mystics, especially St. John of the Cross, the 16th-century Spanish saint. His poetry and writings on the “dark night of the soul” show how God’s silence can actually bring purification and transformation. Instead of abandonment, silence becomes a way for God to strip away our dependence on feelings or signs, and to invite us into a deeper faith. St. John taught that God’s silence draws the soul closer, teaching it to love and trust without visible rewards. Silence reveals God’s hidden presence, fostering a faith that goes beyond emotions.
So we must ask: is God truly silent, or are we failing to listen? God speaks constantly, but we often turn a deaf ear. The issue is not God’s refusal to speak, but our refusal to hear. God’s voice can be found in Scripture, in nature, in conscience, and in other people. What is needed is a heart ready and willing to listen. Too often, we ignore the prophetic voices calling us to justice and compassion, not just in great events but in the simple challenges of daily life that ask us to live faithfully.
A believer’s desire to hear God’s voice can be fulfilled in many ways, by opening ourselves to His constant speaking through the world around us. Regular reading and reflection on Scripture tune our hearts to God’s timeless wisdom. Spending time in nature, whether in a forest or under a starry sky, opens us to God’s voice through creation. Listening to our conscience aligns us with His call to justice and love. Supporting prophetic voices today strengthens God’s message of compassion. And through practices like silent prayer, we learn to listen more deeply and discern God’s quiet voice amidst life’s noise. By doing these things, believers move from thinking God is silent to recognizing His continuous, gentle communication all around them.
Living with God’s silence requires a faith strong enough to face uncertainty. First, it calls for honest lament. Like the Psalmists, we can share our pain and frustration, trusting that God hears us even without immediate answers. Second, it calls for active hope. Romans 8:28 assures us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him,” even when His ways are mysterious. Third, silence calls us to stand together. In places torn by war and suffering, communities that pray, support, and rebuild together make God’s presence visible even when His voice seems quiet. What we need are attentive ears, calm hearts, and a willingness to respond with love. In a child’s smile, in the pain of those who suffer, or in the thoughtful reading of Scripture, God is always speaking. Our task is not to wait for a louder voice, but to notice the gentle ones already around us.
