God and the Silent Treatment

I'm in a wedding kind of mood and I love the biblical wedding imagery of Christ being referred to as the Groom and the church as the Bride.

Last Saturday, I had the privilege of marrying David, my little brother. Even though he has been a mature young man for many years, to me, David, will always be my little brother.

As far as I am concerned, I have 3 little brothers, although two are much bigger and can probably take me, at least I'll let them think that! Regardless, all three are uniquely special and are fondly thought as my little brothers. I am also a little brother of Ricky, and it does not matter to him, that he is the smallest of the bunch.


When Silence is not Golden - I recently had some struggles with one of my brothers. Okay, it was more than a struggle, we hadn't spoken for about two years. I said some stupid things, I got defensive and did not listen. We never worked through the issues, we just left them on the table and put them on hold after our mother passed away. Unfortunately, often  hurtful exchanges do not just go away and disappear like that fading sunset over a mountain range, instead they have a tendency to linger and smell up the joint like a bad stench.

Yet at my brother's spectacular wedding, after more than two years of silence, something beautiful happened to me. I was tapped on the shoulder and heard a voice from behind say, "What's Up, Kene, it's good to see you." At that specific God appointed moment, my instincts took over and all I just hugged him.

I couldn't think of anything more to say except that I was so sorry for the things I said, and that I loved him. I loved him. I loved him. He just smiled and calmly said in his deep baritone, "It's all good, time heals all wounds."


Silence before God - As I reflect on THE BRIDE and GROOM analogy of the church and Jesus, I often wonder if there are people who have been silent with God for several years. I am not talking about a "thanks for the food" prayer or praying for someone to get better in a prayer circle, you likely don't know very well. I am talking about a serious one-to-one conversation where you have the opportunity to share your heart and just be real with Him.

There are many overt reasons why this kind of silence occurs, such as the loss of a loved one, a painful divorce, a period of unemployment, a pregnancy that has not been fulfilled, the crazy busyness of life, even a long season of singleness that has not been desired.

There are also more subtle reasons like a disappointment with God, a lack of genuine joy or even a detached sort of numbness for life. Whatever the reason, your relationship with God has gone dry and seemingly without flavor.

Today quite possibly, you really don't even know what to say to Him because it feels awkward and has been so long since you shared with Him.

I wish I had an easy answer for you, but as best as I see it, you might consider putting yourself in a position to just share your spiritual state of being.  If you willing to do that, I suspect, like my little brother, Jesus wants to "tap" you on the shoulder and say, "What's up, it's good to see you again. I've missed you."

In the end, its not what you say to God that matters, the most important thing is that you say something, whether good or bad. Just be real, God can handle  it.

Just remember this, no matter what has happened to promote the silence, one thing will always be true. He loves you. He love you. He loves you.