Luke 23:55-56 – The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. (NIV)

Silence is truly powerful. For example, think of times when people get the silent treatment in their homes. It is a powerful form of punishment, because we know that there is a broken relationship involved, and we know that we should be communicating in order to solve it

When we get the silent treatment from God, we are left wondering what He means by it. We pray fervently, asking God to intervene and put an end to this pandemic, but it goes on. Why is God silent?

A few days ago, Chris Tomlin hosted a program called Good Friday Worldwide . He invited Max Lucado to speak, and in part of his message, he pointed out that God was very active on Friday, but on Saturday — the Sabbath — He was silent. Max went on to say,

Any time we discuss Easter weekend, we skip Saturday. Friday and Sunday get all the attention — the crucifixion and the resurrection — and well they should. But let's not skip silent Saturday, because you're in the middle of one. The problem has begun, but the solution has yet to arrive, and you're stuck right here on this silent Saturday. You've been talking to God about your health, about your friend, about your job, about your future, and so far, no answer. It's a silent Saturday. And you wonder: Is God angry? Did I disappoint Him? God knows your career is at risk, your finances are in the pit, your mind is a mess, the world is infected. Why doesn't He act? And what are you supposed to do until He does? Jesus shows us. You do what Jesus did: you wait, and you trust. … Jesus knew that God would not leave Him alone in the grave, and you need to know, my friend, that God will not leave you alone with your fears. His silence is not His absence, His inactivity is never apathy. Saturdays have their purpose. They allow us to feel the full force of God. Had God raised Jesus fifteen minutes after the death of His Son, would we have appreciated the act? For God to solve our problems the minute they appear, would we appreciate His strength? For His reasons, God inserts a Saturday between our Friday and our Sunday. And if you're in the middle of one right now, I just urge you to trust — just to keep trusting. Before you know it, God will help you endure the silence of this Saturday, and you will find a celebration on Sunday.

The current pandemic didn't catch God by surprise. He's not sitting up in heaven dismayed, wringing His hands, and saying, "My goodness, what am I going to do now?" He has had a plan all figured out way in advance, from eternity. He knows how to bring good out of evil. He's waiting for us to recognize that He's the only One who can solve this.

Prayer: Lord, help us indeed to wait and to keep on trusting — trusting that You have this pandemic under control, that You actually have a plan for each of us in our isolation, loneliness, unemployment, financial devastation, and economic collapse. Help us to thank You in advance for all the good that You are going to bring out of it that we just can't see yet. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Robin Ross <rross@telus.net>
Mission, British Columbia, Canada
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