Songs to Nourish Your Soul: Finding Your Voice When God Is Silent

I pounded on heaven’s doors for months, only to be met with God’s silence. The need for a job that haunted my thoughts day and night made it difficult to focus on the worship service. However, when the praise team began singing “God Will Make a Way,” my voice caught, and my eyes filled with tears. God heard my cries and responded to my need. More than employment, I yearned to know he hadn’t forgotten me. I had no idea how he’d work things out, but I knew he would. Though God was silent, he was listening.

Words set to music nourish our souls in ways words alone don’t. The songs below have spoken to me in times of God’s silence. I pray they’ll also encourage you, leading you to the God who’s waiting to hold you close.

God Will Make a Way

On a ski trip, Don Moen’s sister and brother-in-law’s van was hit by an 18-wheeler with such force that all four of their children were thrown out. The cries of the children enabled their parents to find them in the darkness. However, only three survived. Moen flew to the funeral, wondering what he could say to comfort his family. God gave him a song based on Isaiah 43:19: I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert (ASV).

“God will make a way
When there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side.
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way.”

Even When He Is Silent

The St. Olaf Festival in Norway commissioned Kim André Arnesen to write “Even When He Is Silent” for their 2011 gathering. He set to music the words written by Jewish refugees on a wall in a Cologne cellar, where nine of them hid during World War II. For four months, they prepared their meals at night so the Gestapo couldn’t see the smoke. Friends gave up a portion of their rations so the fugitives wouldn’t starve. Though they lived in complete darkness, they survived.

“I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. 
I believe in love even when I cannot feel it.
I believe in God even when he is silent.”

Waymaker

Osinachi Kalu Okoro-Egbu wrote “Waymaker” during a difficult time in her life. The Lord assured her that he was her waymaker, her promise keeper. Through these words, he also reminds me of his faithfulness even when he is silent.

“Even when I don’t see it, You’re working 
Even when I can’t feel it, You’re working
You never stop, You never stop working 
You never stop, You never stop working”

At different times in my life, God used each of these songs to confirm that even when he’s silent, he’s still present. He’s the Waymaker who’s always working to make a way to accomplish his purposes.

Biblical Stories

Scripture recounts the stories of many people who struggled with God’s silence. I’ve wrestled with some of the same issues on my website:

• “Why Is God Sometimes Silent?” (Hannah) explores potential explanations for God’s silence.
• “Why Does God Make Us Wait?” (Sarah) discusses the question of delay in God’s fulfillment of his promises.
• “Disappointed in God” considers the experience of  Mary and Martha when Jesus didn’t respond as they’d hoped.
• “Holding onto Faith in the Dark” (Part 1 and Part 2) reviews the story of New Testament Joseph as he strained to hear God’s voice and struggled to find his way.
• “How to Embrace Faith in God’s Silence: Find Strength in His Word” lists steps and Scriptures to guide us when God is silent.

Songs to Nourish Your Soul: Finding Your Voice When God Is Silent by @NancyLucenay on Beyond the Front Door#MusicForTheSoul #GodsSilence Share on X

What music speaks to you when God is silent? Please share in the Comments box at the bottom of the page.