When It Seems God is Silent: We Must Trust in His Timing.

Pastor Paul C. Burdic Preached at OSTBC on April 27, 2025.

Summary: Every one struggles with the injustice of evil going unpunished. In fact, we often want to question God for remaining silent in our sufferings. In Habakkuk 2:1-4, the prophet Habakkuk questions God about the presence of evil and injustice during a time of suffering, seeking understanding about why God appears to be inactive in punishing wrongdoing. The passage reflects a struggle that many believers face when trying to reconcile their faith with the reality of hardship and divine silence.

When it seems like God is silent and not listening to your prayers. Do you lament as the Psalters did in the Book of Psalm or do you whine when you do not get your way?

Bible Passage: Habakkuk 2:1-4

1. Petitions of the Heart

Habakkuk 1:2

Perhaps you could open this sermon point by exploring Habakkuk's cry, "How long, Lord, must I call for help?" This is a powerful expression of the human experience when faced with God's apparent silence. Emphasize how believers are not alone in these feelings of frustration and doubt, and how this honest engagement with God can lead to deeper faith. You might suggest that, like Habakkuk, they voice their concerns to God, trusting that He hears and understands their struggles, even when immediate answers aren't evident.

When the doors remain closed. God’s delay is not denial. What feels like a pause is actually part of God’s process. God is preparing you not punishing you; He’s aligning the right people for His ultimate divine purpose.

Imagine you're eagerly waiting at your favorite coffee shop for your drink. You see the barista busy with other orders, and yours is taking forever. Just when you begin to doubt they even registered your order, they call your name. Sometimes, God's timing feels like that barista taking their sweet time. Remember, just because He hasn’t yet answered doesn’t mean He’s not on it; it's just brewing!

2. Pondering Over Injustice

Habakkuk 1:3

Just like Habakkuk's piercing question about why injustice prevails and God seems to wait. We as believers often question suffering and the delay in divine intervention. Even the prophets questioned God's ways. Questioning is a part of faith, and God's timing is perfect, encouraging believers to trust in God's larger narrative. Why not we be encouraged to view these difficult times as an opportunity to deepen our dependence on the Lord.

In the book of Habakkuk, the prophet boldly questions God about the suffering of his people. God's response? 'Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.' Habakkuk teaches us that questioning isn’t a sign of weak faith; it’s part of our journey with God. God’s timing is often not our own, yet, like Habakkuk, we must trust that He is working out a grander narrative for our lives, even if we can’t grasp it in the moment.

God has appointed us for His divine purpose and plan in this generation. Trust in God’s timing. The just will live by the Lord’s faith. Don’t give into the pressure of the trial but instead believe that God is always working on behalf of those who love Him.

Isaiah 60:22:

The New King James Version Chapter 60

22 A little one shall become a thousand,

And a small one a strong nation.

I, the LORD, will hasten(be quick to do) it in its time.” Emphasis added Trust God’s timing and plan over yours.

3. Pursuit of Divine Justice

Habakkuk 1:4

Let’s explore how Habakkuk sees the law as ineffective and justice as paralyzed.

He cried out to God: “Crying out in anger and frustration to God is biblical. Many of the psalms do that. It is called lamenting.

To lament means “to mourn, to express one’s deep grief about, to express regret or disappointment over something considered unsatisfactory, unreasonable, or unfair.”

In the Bible, a lament is a prayer expressing sorrow, pain, or confusion. It is a way to process grief in God’s presence. However, lamenting and grumbling are completely different when it comes to questioning God. There is a difference between lamenting and whining.

Genuine lamenting comes from a heart that admits you are deserving of nothing. You have a heart of humility before God. Lamenting is honest-to-God dialogue.

Whining, on the other hand, presupposes that you are entitled to something and usually contains selfish motives. “I want what I want when I want it—now! And do it my way!”

Lamenting takes whatever problems you see and carries them into the presence of God, giving Him opportunity to teach you something from it. Usually, He teaches you something about yourself or teaches you how to want His will more than your own. That is what Habakkuk discovered.”

https://melanienewton.com/Habakkuk-lamenting-is-good-whining-is-bad/?srsltid=AfmBOoo2HzhjIUsxzegPVJqbhIL_fb53hMXiPBdRgsnIUPqeqComuoHK

When we relate this to how many today feel about the seeming inactivity of God's hand in the world's problems. We must highlight, however, that God's justice is neither delayed nor ineffective, but perfectly timed. Be encouraged as believers in Christ and remember that God's perspectives are broader than ours, suggesting that, though we may not understand His ways, we can have faith in His ultimate justice and redemption through Christ.

The Bible tells us in Romans 8:24-25

The New King James Version Chapter 8

24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

What does the sermon teach about the relationship between God's timing and His promises?

Answer: “When God seems silent, trusting in His timing means believing that His promises will be fulfilled, even if it’s not our timeline. His timing is often linked to a broader purposes and plans, including history and the lives of many, making it seem delayed to us.”

Application: Let me encourage in remaining steadfast in your faith, even when it feels that God is silent in your struggles. By trusting in God's perfect timing and His broader plan for justice, believers can find peace in their circumstances, knowing that God sees and cares about their plight.

Teaching: When we come to understand that God's silence is not evidence of His absence or indifference. Instead, it serves as a reminder of His sovereignty and the ultimate fulfillment of His promises, urging believers to trust in His timing amidst adversity.

Big Idea: Even in the midst of apparent silence and injustice, we can trust in God's perfect timing and ultimate justice, knowing He is actively working behind the scenes for our good and His glory.

Closing Prayer & Invitation or Altar Call!

Dismissal: Deacon Steve McQueen