The Way Ministries

Dr. Carlos Quijada: Hello everybody and welcome to a new series here on Walking the Way with Dr. Carlos Quijada. I am so glad to have you join me today in this new podcast episode. I know that it's been a couple of weeks since we've been quiet, and I think this really weaves into the topic that I'm going to start today, which is really interesting.

If you started watching, I want to ask you if you could please share this video with as many contacts as you can. I know that this reflection is going to bless a lot of people. This week I'm going to start a new series titled Faith in Real Life. Last time we concluded with a great series that was a wonderful way to start our very first season. This time we're going to move on to these next few weeks in which we're going to be talking about different topics related to faith in real life.

When I was planning to start this podcast, one of the things that God put in my heart was to create a space where I can share some reflections on things that we deal with as human beings and how to apply truth in those situations. We will have guests every now and then, and I'm expecting to have someone in our next episode to continue this conversation about faith in real life.

Today's episode is titled The Silence of God. I want to ask a question that you probably ask yourself often: Have you ever felt that God is silent? Why doesn't God answer? I know I have asked myself that question, and sometimes people come to me feeling this same way. Is God really listening to me in this moment?

There are times in which we pray and pray and we go through situations. Sometimes people that might not be attending church, when they go through a crisis, they have learned to call onto the name of God and there is no response. I know that can be very frustrating, especially in this messy world where there's so much pain, suffering, and confusion. Honestly, we are in a time where we question a lot of things. Some people might question everything.

If this is you, I want you to please pay attention to these words that I'm going to share with you today. We ask ourselves why this happens and why these situations occur in our lives. There are times in which we might not get a clear answer, or we might get answers that are going to surprise us. I want to be a little more vulnerable this time because I want to share a personal testimony.

Years ago I met my lovely wife. At the time, I was already pastoring in New Jersey and she was a minister in training at her church. We met, we became friends, and out of that friendship, romantic love came. We got engaged and married. Being the child of a large family, one of the things that I dreamed of was to have children. Actually, I told her when we were still engaged that I would like to have several kids. We had these great dreams and desires, and we were faithful people going to church and serving.

Marriage came and we had a lovely wedding. Shortly after we started our lives as husband and wife, we received news from a doctor that infertility was a part of our life at that moment. It was a big shocker. It was something that for several years we dealt with. I remember we would pray and people would pray for us. They would say things like, "I can sense that this is the year you guys are going to have a child," and then that year would end with no child in sight.

It came to a point in which I personally was questioning if God was really listening. I know my wife was going through her own struggles. It was like, "Hello God, are You home? Are You there?" It was a journey in which we needed to learn to trust God in those times of silence. I remember that one day I was in my little home office praying, and I realized that God has to say only one word and it's going to be done.

For us, some things are impossible and very hard. There's nothing we can do about it. We as human beings can't cause life to flourish or to exist, but God only has to say the word. So I said, "If You haven't done it, You know why. I don't understand it, You know my desire, but I'm just going to surrender that to You." From that moment on, I decided that whether God gave me a child or not, I was still going to serve Him and continue to worship Him.

Months passed by and God gave us the child that we were praying for. This is just one of many testimonies. I could go on and on sharing those times of silence in which I've prayed, or people close to me have prayed, and they haven't heard any response. The truth of the matter is that when God does respond, His response might be a no. God does not always give us what we ask for, but one of the things that we need to learn in this walk of faith is that whatever that response may look like, it is perfect when it comes from God.

Faith is not magic. There are times that people get impatient and start questioning God because they set expectations that might not be in alignment with what God wants for their lives. We believe, whether consciously or subconsciously, that we are able to micromanage God. The reality is that God is so great. He's the source of everything and we can't control the plans that He has. All we can do is partner with Him and walk in this path alongside Him. Things will end up way better than we can expect or dream of.

A lot of individuals in the Bible went through experiences in which they were faithful, doing the will of God, and yet they went through things that in the moment seemed unfair. We ask why good people suffer. We have the example of Job. Job was a man that even God Himself said there's no one as faithful and loyal as him. He was super blessed. He had beautiful children and a lot of cattle and sheep, which at the time were characteristics of a very wealthy individual.

The Lord allowed the enemy to wipe out everything he had, and for a long time Job didn't have a clue why these things were happening. He started questioning if there was something that he did. He started questioning God as a just judge until the day came when God showed up. God showed him that no matter what, He is still on the throne and everything is under His control. Job came to the conclusion that he was talking about things he didn't understand. From then on, he stayed silent and trusted in the Lord. God blessed him double for his trouble.

We also have the life of Elijah. Elijah was a prophet that we can read about in 1st Kings. He ministered during the time of Ahab, who was one of the most wicked kings that Israel had had in history. God used Elijah as an instrument to confront people that were serving a false god called Baal. After a great victory at Mount Carmel where he confronted these prophets and showed them that the true God is the God of Israel, Ahab's wife Jezebel wasn't happy. She swore by her gods that Elijah was a dead man.

Elijah got scared and he ran far away from his area of ministry and hid in a cave. The Bible tells us that there was an earthquake, a strong wind like a tornado, and a fire. There were all these loud natural phenomenons, but God was not in those loud things. But then there was a silent whisper, and he was able to hear the voice of God. God is not like a microwave. We live in a time in which we want things fast, but God has a perfect time for everything under the sun.

There are moments in our lives in which there's silence. Maybe you are going through that time right now in which you're asking yourself, "Where is God in all this?" Kind of like Elijah when he was in that cave. Maybe you're surrounded by danger and difficult situations. God is preparing you for a next step, even if you can't feel it. Faith is not about what we feel. People seek experiences and physical evidence, like feeling goosebumps or being in a place where there's a lot of noise.

God can be in those moments because He is omnipresent, but if there is none of that, it doesn't mean that He's not there. It is so important for us to learn to trust Him even when we don't feel it, even when we don't know what's going on or we might have doubts as to where we're going. It is important for us to stay put and trust in the Lord. So what do we do when it feels like God is silent? What's the next step?

When we're on a road trip and we don't know where we're going, if the navigation system is out, how do we know where to go next? When it comes to this walking in faith, the first thing we need to do is keep showing up. There are some practices that we can do. Prayer is a great ally, as is reflecting on the Word of God and worship, even if it feels empty. Sometimes we don't feel like lifting our hands, but those are the moments in which we need to push ourselves. Even if I don't feel it, I'm still going to show up.

It's kind of like that meme that says, "Sometimes I don't feel like working, but then I remember I have bills to pay." Then I just have to show up. It's just a thing that we do. In the same way, more than a paycheck, we need the presence of God. We need to be led by Him. No matter how we feel, it is important for us to show up and pray to God in the midst of a confusing season. Faith is as much about action as it is about feeling. We walk by conviction.

The second thing that we can do is reflect and journal. In my practice as a counselor, I recommend people write down their thoughts and feelings. Document your day and how you are experiencing this journey, including your frustrations. A lot of the Psalms were written during times of crisis when the author was going through a moment of despair, and yet we have these amazing words that have served as encouragement for millions of people.

Sometimes when we see our journey on a piece of paper, it can help us have more clarity. I remember when I was going through infertility, I used to write down those experiences. What a testimony to look back on how I was going through that process and how God worked things out at the end. It inspires me to share with others. Some parents or wannabe parents might be wondering if that will be their reality. At the end of the day, we need to zoom out and see what God's plan is for our lives.

Sometimes His plans are beyond having children. In our case, we were embracing the idea that if we were going to adopt and give a home to an orphan child, so be it. We need to be open to what God wants because He doesn't always give us what we want, but He gives us what we truly need. Another thing we can do is talk to someone. You don't have to walk through silence alone. Trusted friends, mentors, or spiritual leaders can provide perspective.

Connecting with a counselor can be very helpful. My contact information is on the screen if you want counseling. I am here for you and would love to walk in your journey with you. Fourth, look for evidence. Even small moments of grace, beauty, or kindness are signs that God is still present. Don't dismiss those brief moments in which you can see God at work in the small details. Remember that feeling distant doesn't equal being abandoned. Just because you feel distant does not mean that God has abandoned you.

Before we close today, I just want to invite you to reflect on this: When was the last time you felt God was silent? How did you respond? I would love to hear your story. I want us to engage in this conversation and to encourage one another. You can leave a comment or connect on social media. My information is on the screen. If you're just listening, you can find me under Pastor Carlos Quijada on Facebook.

I want this to be a space where we can just learn from each other about living faith in real life. Thank you so much for tuning in today. I pray that these reflections have encouraged your faith. Remember that God has a plan for you, even if you don't see it or feel it right now. He is a God of purpose. Next time we're going to talk about faith versus anxiety and whether they can really coexist. It's a conversation you won't want to miss. God bless you and until next time.