Sometimes, Silence is the Solution

The Lord has been shepherding me through complicated life experiences to learn the lesson of silently trusting in His secret move. At times, it was so tempting to react in my natural man to the situations happening now and then. Yes, I was so much tempted to act according to what I felt I should, to situations so complicated and unexpected. But the Lord taught me to keep quite and waitin silence. 

Often, I asked the Lord, how long should I remain silent? Shouldn't I be doing what I am suppose to do? Well, my feelings, perhaps, may be just emotional. How am I so sure that I am all in oneness with the Lord when I am emotionally driven?

I have been observing the situation of a certain sister under my shepherding care who has not been keeping spiritually well. I also know what she has been going through. But I have been restraint by the Lord in my spirit not to react according what I feel or know about her situation. Therefore, I refrain from making any comment whatsoever until I am cent per cent clear of the Lord’s leading. So I remain silent all this while. Perhaps, silence is the solution for now unless otherwise the Spirit leads me to take action. It needs more exercise of my mingled spirit to be in silence. It would have been much more easy for me to react at the spur of the moment. But now, I have been restraint to simply be in silence and wait for the Lord to move. Therefore, I pray all the more, and more intensely for her and for the situation she has been entangled in. Silence is the solution for now, until the Lord leads me to take action.

Another case is with a brother who has gradually withdrawn himself from the church life. For reasons best known to him, he started skipping meetings, avoided phone calls, and messages. Recently, he dropped out of the church messaging group without any explanation. Unethical, yet he just dropped out. How shoud I react?

I did try to call him and send text message but he didn't even bother to reply. I sense that he is not in the right spirit and its not wise to do things when one is not in the spirit. So I simply have to pray for him and wait in silence for the Spirit's move in him.

Today morning, the Lord burdened me to pray for him specifically and his recovery back to the normal church life. I am open to the Lord for His leading and would act only at His command. I dare not use my natural good man even in the name of shepherding a brother. I don't trust even in my so called "shepherding" anymore. I only trust in the Lord. Only in the Lord’s command I will shepherd.

I reckon this situation as a test for him. If the Lord would visit him and open the door for me, I would pay any price for the recovery of my brother. But if the Lord put him to a test and he continue to harden his heart towards the Lord or the brothers or the church, I would not use my natural strength to do anything. It is futile to recover "Absolom" who would rebel and cause division in the kingdom of God to his shameful death. I hope that this brother is not like "Absolom." I hope and pray that he be sobered and see the vision of the Body of Christ clearly. I hope that he repent of all distractions and he be recovered into the fellowship of the Body of Christ. Only the Lord can recover him and I am willing to cooperate with Lord if He so leads me. Until then, I would pray and silently wait for the Lord’s move in him. Therefore, for now, silence is the best solution.

Sometimes, silence is the solution.