In social media there is a phenomenon known as “ghosting”. It feels like a monologue where one party is trying to communicate but there is no reply — even though you know the other party probably saw your message. It’s very frustrating. I think there’s an analogous situation I call “Holy Ghosting” when we face seasons when God seems quiet—when we pray, wait, and hear nothing in return. Those moments can leave us feeling abandoned or forgotten. But silence is not absence. God’s quietness often carries purpose, inviting us to trust Him more deeply than before.
Prayer isn’t a performance—it’s a lifeline. We don’t need to sound impressive; we just need to be honest. James 5:16 reminds us, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” God isn’t grading our grammar. He listens to the language of our hearts. He values truthfulness more than perfection.
Jesus illustrated this in Luke 11:5–13 with the parable of the friend who knocked at midnight asking for bread. Though inconvenient, the friend responded because of the man’s persistence. Jesus concluded, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). God isn’t bothered by our persistence—He is honored by it. Repeated prayers are not a sign of doubt but of faith.
When we don’t hear God’s voice, we often assume He’s ignoring us. Yet Scripture teaches that His silence is part of His wisdom. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine” (Isaiah 55:8-9). We see moments; God sees the entire story. What feels like delay is often divine preparation.
Proverbs 3:5-6 offers a foundation for silent seasons: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” When the path feels uncertain, trust becomes the bridge between our confusion and God’s direction.
David, too, wrestled with divine silence. In Psalm 13:1 he cried, “O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?” Yet by the end of that same psalm, his faith re-emerges: “But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me” (Psalm 13:5). Even in silence, David chose trust over despair.
Waiting is not weakness—it’s strength in disguise. “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). Those who wait in faith are not standing still; they are growing roots. Lamentations 3:25 assures us, “The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.” God’s stillness invites dependence, not distance.
When you feel unheard, remember Romans 8:26: “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for, but the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” Even when we cannot articulate our pain, heaven still hears it. Silence does not stop the conversation between God’s Spirit and our hearts.
And though we can’t always see it, God is working behind the scenes. “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28). His purpose doesn’t pause just because He seems quiet.
Sometimes God’s silence is a call to perseverance. Galatians 6:9 encourages us: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Our persistence in prayer and obedience becomes a testimony of faith in the unseen.
There are also times when silence protects us. Psalm 37:7 says, “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.” God may be shielding us from something premature or preparing something greater than we imagined. What looks like inactivity may actually be mercy at work.
So what should we do when heaven feels quiet? Keep showing up. Keep talking to God even when words run dry. Whisper the simple prayer: “God, I don’t even know what to say, but I’m here.” That small act of faith moves mountains in the unseen world.
When answers delay, remember Hebrews 11:6: “It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” Faith is not proven in the noise but in the silence—when we keep believing, keep trusting, and keep knocking.
God’s silence is never the silence of abandonment. It’s the quiet strength of a Father who knows when to speak and when to let His children grow. His timing is perfect, His wisdom unsearchable, and His presence constant. As Psalm 46:10 reminds us, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Even when you can’t hear Him, He’s near. His silence is sacred space—an invitation to trust that He is still writing your story.
Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://blog.salvationarmyconcordca.org