March 27, 2025 • 18 mins
That moment when heaven goes quiet can shake even the strongest believer. The prayers that once flowed easily now feel like they're bouncing off the ceiling. The scripture that used to speak so clearly now reads flat on the page. And the question emerges – has God ghosted me?
Faith isn't always mountain-top moments and dramatic breakthroughs. Sometimes it's standing firm when the spiritual skies are cloudy, when God's presence feels distant, and when answers seem locked away. This spiritual dryness isn't a sign of failure or abandonment – it's often where the deepest spiritual growth happens in ways we can't immediately recognize.
Drawing from both biblical wisdom and unexpected pop culture parallels, we explore how characters from The Sandman to Dark Souls mirror our spiritual struggles in profound ways. From Psalm 18's promise of deer-like footing on difficult terrain to Isaiah's assurance that God leads us through unknown paths, scripture reminds us that divine silence isn't divine absence. As Henry Nouwen wisely observed, "In the silence, God is not absent but profoundly present, waiting for us to stop performing and start being."
The practical reality of holding on when God feels distant isn't about manufacturing spiritual experiences or forcing breakthrough moments. It's about the quiet courage of continuing to show up – opening scripture even when it feels dry, whispering prayers even when they feel one-sided, and reaching for community when isolation tempts. God hasn't abandoned the line; He's inviting us into a deeper trust that transcends feelings and circumstances. If you're walking through a spiritual desert right now, this episode offers both validation for your struggle and practical anchors for your journey forward.
I would love to hear from you!
For listeners looking to deepen their engagement with the topics discussed, visit our website or check out our devotionals and poetry on Amazon, with all proceeds supporting The New York School of The Bible at Calvary Baptist Church. Stay connected and enriched on your spiritual path with us!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 0 (00:00):
Welcome to the Faithful Geek Podcast.
I'm your host, jem Collectibles, and I'm really glad you're
tuning in.
Today we're diving into a topicthat's honest and weighty those
moments when it feels like Godhas gone silent, like he's
disappeared off the radar.
This episode is called when GodGhosts you Dealing with Divine
Silent Treatment.
It's a raw look at spiritualdryness and how we stay grounded
when God seems distant.
No fluff, just real talk aboutnavigating the quiet.
(00:22):
But before we jump in, let'stake a moment to pray.
Father, thank you for beingnear even when we can't feel you
.
Open our ears and soften ourhearts as we explore this
silence.
Give us strength to persevereand eyes to see you in the dry
seasons.
Walk with us through thisconversation In Jesus' name,
amen.
Let's begin with somethingwe've all probably felt.
When God goes quiet and itfeels like the line has gone
(00:42):
dead, you pray, you wait and itjust feels empty.
Spiritual dryness isn't neat.
It's uncomfortable, isolatingand can leave you wondering if
God's really still there.
But here's the thing holding onwhen God feels far away doesn't
mean pretending everything'sokay.
It means staying in thestruggle, even when it feels
like you're alone in the rain.
Let's talk comics for a moment,specifically Neil Gaiman's the
Sandman, published by DC Vertigo.
(01:03):
The character Dream lives inthe quiet corners of the
universe, often unseen.
In the first volume, preludesand nocturnes.
Dream is imprisoned for years,stripped of his power, unable to
speak.
Yet even in silence, hisidentity remains intact.
That resonates when God isquiet.
It doesn't mean he's gone.
It means we're being invited totrust what we already know
about him, even in the shadows.
Think about Psalm chapter 18,verse 33.
(01:24):
He makes my feet like the feetof a deer.
He causes me to stand on theheights.
It's not a verse you hear everyday, but it's powerful.
God's strength doesn't vanishwhen he's silent.
It's constant, like a steadycurrent beneath still waters.
His silence isn't distance.
It's often another form ofpresence.
Let's consider a thought fromHenry Nouwen, the Dutch priest
and writer.
In his book the Way of theHeart, he writes Solitude does
(01:45):
not give us the power to control, but the strength to surrender.
That strikes a chord In asociety hooked on constant
action and answers.
God often draws us intostillness instead.
Nouwen's point is clear thesilence isn't barren.
It's where we find the courageto let go and grow.
Here's another angle from popculture the band Twenty One
Pilots in their song Car Radiofrom the album Vessel has this
haunting line.
(02:05):
I have these thoughts so often.
I ought to replace that slotwith what I once bought, cause
somebody stole my car radio andnow I just sit in silence.
It's an honest portrayal ofsitting in stillness when all
distractions are stripped away.
That's what spiritual drynessfeels like, when the noise fades
and you're left with justyourself.
And that's where faith beginsto grow, right there in the
quiet.
(02:28):
The world doesn't reallyunderstand this.
It tells us to fill the silencewith something anything but.
As followers of Christ, we'recalled to sit with the silence
and stay rooted.
It's not about chasing aspiritual high.
It's about believing God isstill with us, even if we don't
hear Him.
Dryness is an abandonment.
It's a chapter, not the end ofthe story.
So how do we hold on in thesedry spells?
It's simple, but not easy.
Just keep showing up.
Open your Bible even when itfeels dry.
Whisper a prayer, even if itfeels one-sided.
(02:49):
Reach out to someone who'swalked this road before.
This isn't about forcing abreakthrough.
It's about staying present evenwhen the skies feel empty.
That's how we endure thesilence raw, honest and real.
Let's keep going.
When God feels silent.
It's like a well that's run dry.
You're thirsty, desperate andscraping for something.
Anything that kind of spiritualdrought can make holding on
feel like grabbing sand.
But maybe it's not aboutwaiting for a flood, maybe it's
(03:12):
about discovering the smallstream that still flows, the one
that sustains you.
Just enough, let's look atanime Cowboy Bebop.
Spike Spiegel is a bounty hunter, drifting through space,
looking for purpose in the midstof silence.
In episode 5, ballad of FallenAngels, spike is falling
literally and emotionally,grappling with his past, no
answers in sight.
But he doesn't give up.
He keeps drifting, keeps going.
That's a picture of faith inthe dry times.
(03:33):
We may not have the fullpicture, but we keep taking the
next step.
Now consider 2 Chronicles 16, 9,.
For the eyes of the Lord moveto and fro throughout the earth.
That he may strongly supportthose whose heart is completely
His.
That's not a thunderousdeclaration, it's a quiet
assurance.
God isn't ignoring us.
He's watching, ready to supportus.
His silence isn't Him turningaway.
It's Him inviting us to stayclose.
(03:53):
Author Brendan Manning in theFurious Longing of God says In
the silence, god is not absentbut profoundly present, waiting
for us to stop performing andstart being.
That's a powerful shift.
We often assume silence meanswe've failed, but maybe it's
where God draws closest,inviting us to rest rather than
strive.
Holding on in these moments isless about doing and more about
being.
Let's jump into gaming.
(04:14):
An example would be the DarkSouls 2 video game.
You're this cursed characterwandering through a bleak world
where even the air feels heavy.
There are no clear directions,just the quiet and your resolve.
It's tough, but every stepmatters.
That spiritual dryness.
It's not always about grandvictories.
It's about showing up, Trustingthat each step forward matters,
even when it doesn't feel likeit.
In today's world, silence isavoided.
(04:35):
We drown it out with mediascrolling, constant chatter.
But we, as Christians, areinvited to be different.
Silence doesn't mean somethingis wrong.
It often means we're growing.
God isn't asking for polishedperformances.
He's asking for presence.
So, practically, what does thislook like?
Stay rooted.
When the silence feels endless,don't run.
Plant your feet.
Open scripture, even if itreads flat Pray, even if all you
(04:56):
can offer is a whisper.
Talk with someone who gets it.
This isn't about ending thedrought.
It's about learning to livethrough it, knowing God is still
the source.
Let's shift a little.
When God goes silent, it's likeyour signals drop.
No bars, no messages, juststatic.
That kind of dryness can feellike you've been forgotten.
But here's the truth.
It's not about chasing theconnection, it's about trusting
the call is still active, evenif you can't hear the ring.
(05:17):
Let's talk about some metalmusic, like the band
Underworld's song titled Writingon the Walls from their album
Define the Great Line.
That line is maybe we're justsleepwalking captures the
confusion and yearning in thesilence.
When the world is loud and Godis quiet, it's tempting to
sleepwalk through faith, butinstead we stay awake, we
wrestle, we wait, even when thesilence screams louder than the
noise.
(05:37):
Job 13.15 says Though he slayme, I will hope in him.
Nevertheless I will argue myways to his face.
That's raw faith he holds on.
Silence doesn't erase hope.
It tests it and through thetesting it refines it.
Francis Chan, in his bookForgotten God, reminds us we
forget that God's primary goalis not to make us comfortable
(05:59):
but to make us holy.
That's a hard truth.
Spiritual dryness isn't apunishment, it's a process.
God isn't ghosting us, he'srefining us.
And holding on through thesilence means trusting that the
discomfort has a purpose.
Let's bring in the legend ofZelda Majora's Mask.
You've got three days to save aworld that feels doomed.
The moon looms overhead andLink has no flashy speeches,
just a quiet determination tokeep going.
(06:19):
That's what spiritual drynessfeels like.
We might not hear the music,but we keep moving, trusting the
composer is still conducting.
The world runs from silence.
It fills the gaps withdistractions and noise, but as
believers we're called to standstill, even in the quiet.
Dryness isn't defeat.
It's the hard soil where deeproots grow.
How do we endure it Withcourage?
When the darkness feels close,don't flee.
(06:44):
Stay grounded.
Read the word, even when itfeels like routine Pray, even if
it's a sigh.
Sit with friends who understand.
It's not about escaping thesilence.
It's about embracing it,knowing God is still there with
you.
When God is silent, it's aboutembracing it, knowing God is
still there with you.
When God is silent, it's likeyou're wandering without a
compass, no pun intended.
You're unsure where to go,feeling lost in a haze.
Spiritual dryness can feel likedrifting.
Holding on in those momentsmeans finding your footing, even
when you can't see the path.
(07:04):
Let's talk about one of myfavorite manga and the original
anime from 1997.
We are talking about Berserk.
The character Guts walksthrough unimaginable pain.
After the eclipse he's brokensilent, yet he still picks up
his sword and moves forward.
That's the image of faith.
In the dry places we might feelshattered, but we keep going,
even when it's dark.
Isaiah, chapter 42, verse 16,says I will lead the blind by a
(07:25):
way they do not know, in pathsthey do not know.
I will guide them.
I will make darkness into lightbefore them and rugged places
into plains.
That's a promise.
God's silence doesn't mean he'slost us.
It means he's leading us evenwhen we can't see.
Christian author ElizabethElliot wrote in Passion and
Purity the growth of all livingthings requires waiting, and
waiting is not easy.
That's real talk.
Dry seasons aren't fast.
(07:46):
They stretch us, and holding onthrough them means trusting
God's pace, not forcing our own.
Folk music gives us anotherpicture Fleet foxes in
helplessness.
Blues reflect on searching formeaning in quiet spaces.
The line I was raised upbelieving I was somehow unique
carries the weight ofintrospection.
That's what dryness brings.
It peels back the noise so wecan rediscover who we are in Him
.
The world hates waiting.
(08:07):
It wants instant clarity.
But Christians know that fogisn't failure.
It's part of the journey.
We hold on, not because we see,but because we trust we are
still seen.
Practically, this means stayinggrounded when the compass spins
.
Take a breath, stay rooted inScripture, even when it's slow.
Off In scripture, even whenit's slow.
Offer up your prayers, evenwhen they feel empty.
Reach for steady hands.
It's not about clearing the fog, it's about walking through it
(08:28):
together.
When God is quiet, it can feellike the fire's gone out.
You're sitting in ashes,wondering if the flame will ever
return.
Spiritual dryness can leave youcold.
But here's the truth.
The coals are still burningeven when the blaze is gone.
In the Last of Us, a wearytraveler pushes forward through
a shattered, desolate land.
There's a scene by a crumblingbridge still haunting unanswered
.
Yet he lingers.
(08:48):
He doesn't turn back.
That's the picture of endurance.
You don't need all thesolutions, you just need to keep
standing there.
Psalm 46, verse 10 says Bestill and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among thenations.
I will be exalted in the earth.
That's striking.
God's call to stillness is anabandonment.
It's a steady, unshakablepresence.
He remains with us.
Dallas Willard, in Hearing Godwrites Silence is not the
(09:13):
absence of God, but the presenceof a living will that does not
need to speak to be real.
That changes everything.
Dryness doesn't mean God isgone.
It means he's working beyondwhat we can hear.
Think of John Coltrane's jazzclassic, nema.
The music is soft, spacious andpowerful.
Coltrane lets the pausesbreathe.
That's how God often works inthe spaces between the noise.
When we let the silence sit, wemay find he's been there all
along.
The world chases constantstimulation, but we can embrace
(09:35):
the quiet.
Dryness isn't defeat.
It's an invitation to deeperfaith.
We stay, not because it's easy,but because it's worth it.
What does that look like?
It looks like tending to thelittle things.
Open your Bible even when thepages feel silent.
Pray even if all you can offeris a sigh.
Share the journey with someonewho understands.
It's not about reigniting thefire.
It's about trusting that itstill burns.
Let's take one more turn.
(09:56):
When God is silent, it can feellike the stage is empty no
lights, no sound, just you andthe quiet.
It can feel like the show'sover, but maybe the director is
still at work behind the scenes.
In the comic book Preacher byGarth Innes and Steve Dillon,
jesse Custer is searching forGod, literally In issue number
one.
He's confused and hurt, but hekeeps going, he keeps searching.
That's what we do.
When God is quiet, we keepshowing up.
(10:18):
Micah, chapter 7, verse 8, saysDo not rejoice over me, o my
enemy.
Though I fall, I will rise.
Though I dwell in darkness, theLord is a light for me.
That's a declaration.
Darkness doesn't get the finalword.
God is still the light, even inthe shadows.
Thomas Merton once wrote in hisbook titled no man is an Island
.
True solitude is found in thewilderness of the heart, where
God speaks without words.
(10:39):
That's where transformationbegins.
The barren places peel back ourlayers, exposing who we really
are, and it's in that rawnessthat God steps in.
In Billie Eilish's Everything IWanted, there's a line.
I tried to scream but my headwas underwater.
It's a hushed, desperate vibeof plea that doesn't explode but
simmers beneath the surface.
No dazzling miracles or epicfanfare, just a fragile strand
of hope, keeping it together inthe dark.
(11:00):
Faith doesn't always roar.
Sometimes it's the quiet hum wegrip when the chaos dims.
The world might gloss overthese low-key beats, but we hang
on.
Emptiness isn't a flop, it'sraw faith.
We don't bail, we stick it out.
So how do we stay?
We stay seated when the stagegoes dark.
Don't leave.
Read, pray, hold space withothers.
It's not about curtain calls,it's all about trust.
When God is silent it can feellike the line has gone dead no
(11:24):
signal, no sound.
But holding on means believingthe call hasn't ended.
God is still on the other side.
In Ghost, in the Shell, majorquestions her soul in a quiet
world.
In the final scene she's stillsilent, but full of resolve.
That's us.
Even without clarity, we remainrooted in who God is.
Psalm, chapter 37, verse 7tells us Rest in the Lord and
wait patiently for Him.
37, verse 7 tells us rest inthe Lord and wait patiently for
(11:46):
him.
That's our posture Stillness,trust.
God hasn't disappeared.
He's inviting us to lean in.
Cs Lewis, in A Grief Observed,says I need Christ, not
something that resembles him.
That's honest.
In silence we find the realChrist, not the image but the
substance.
And we hold on.
Kavinsky's Night Call fromOutrun sets a slow, haunting
tone.
It's a call through the dark.
That's spiritual dryness.
We're not shouting into thevoid, we're trusting the line is
(12:07):
still open.
The world drops the call, butwe stay on.
Dryness doesn't mean we'redisconnected, it means we're
waiting.
We hold on, not because it'sclear but because he is near.
So how do we keep theconnection.
Stay dialed in.
Read scripture, pray throughthe silence, stay close to those
who walk with you.
It's not about forcing aconversation.
It's about trusting therelationship.
(12:27):
We've explored some heavyterritory today, those seasons
when God goes quiet and thesilence feels like a wall.
But here's your anchor God isstill here.
If you're sensing the need tograb hold of Him, even through
the silence, do it now.
Say yes to trusting Him.
Say yes to staying in thejourney, even when it's hard.
He's not far, he's right therewith you.
Let's pray, lord.
Thank you for being constanteven in the silence.
(12:48):
Give us strength to endure thedry seasons.
Help us hold on and draw uscloser through the quiet.
Meet each listener today in areal and personal way.
In Jesus' name, amen.
If today's episode resonatedwith you, explore more
faith-building resources atthecrossroadscollectiveorg,
where you will find theCrossroads Library, which has
free downloadable devotionals.
Also, please feel free to reachout to me anytime at jm at
(13:12):
thecrossroadscollectiveorg or atthecrossroadsot at gmailcom.
But before we close, I want toinvite you to a life-changing
moment.
If you're ready to step into arelationship with Jesus, to find
forgiveness, peace and a freshstart, take this step with me.
Simply say Jesus, I need you.
I believe you died for me androse again.
Forgive my sins, fill me withyour spirit and lead me into the
life you have for me.
If you just prayed with me,then welcome to the family and
(13:33):
my heart jumps for joy.
I also suggest you join a Biblepreaching church.
Search out friends who willhelp you on your new life.
Thank you for being part of theFaithful Geek podcast.
This is JM Collectibles, andremember to level up your faith
and geek out for God Until nexttime.
God bless you.
Welcome to the Faithful Geek Podcast.
I'm your host, jem Collectibles, and I'm really glad you're
tuning in.
Today we're diving into a topicthat's honest and weighty those
moments when it feels like Godhas gone silent, like he's
disappeared off the radar.
This episode is called when GodGhosts you Dealing with Divine
Silent Treatment.
It's a raw look at spiritualdryness and how we stay grounded
when God seems distant.
No fluff, just real talk aboutnavigating the quiet.
(00:22):
But before we jump in, let'stake a moment to pray.
Father, thank you for beingnear even when we can't feel you
.
Open our ears and soften ourhearts as we explore this
silence.
Give us strength to persevereand eyes to see you in the dry
seasons.
Walk with us through thisconversation In Jesus' name,
amen.
Let's begin with somethingwe've all probably felt.
When God goes quiet and itfeels like the line has gone
(00:42):
dead, you pray, you wait and itjust feels empty.
Spiritual dryness isn't neat.
It's uncomfortable, isolatingand can leave you wondering if
God's really still there.
But here's the thing holding onwhen God feels far away doesn't
mean pretending everything'sokay.
It means staying in thestruggle, even when it feels
like you're alone in the rain.
Let's talk comics for a moment,specifically Neil Gaiman's the
Sandman, published by DC Vertigo.
(01:03):
The character Dream lives inthe quiet corners of the
universe, often unseen.
In the first volume, preludesand nocturnes.
Dream is imprisoned for years,stripped of his power, unable to
speak.
Yet even in silence, hisidentity remains intact.
That resonates when God isquiet.
It doesn't mean he's gone.
It means we're being invited totrust what we already know
about him, even in the shadows.
Think about Psalm chapter 18,verse 33.
(01:24):
He makes my feet like the feetof a deer.
He causes me to stand on theheights.
It's not a verse you hear everyday, but it's powerful.
God's strength doesn't vanishwhen he's silent.
It's constant, like a steadycurrent beneath still waters.
His silence isn't distance.
It's often another form ofpresence.
Let's consider a thought fromHenry Nouwen, the Dutch priest
and writer.
In his book the Way of theHeart, he writes Solitude does
(01:45):
not give us the power to control, but the strength to surrender.
That strikes a chord In asociety hooked on constant
action and answers.
God often draws us intostillness instead.
Nouwen's point is clear thesilence isn't barren.
It's where we find the courageto let go and grow.
Here's another angle from popculture the band Twenty One
Pilots in their song Car Radiofrom the album Vessel has this
haunting line.
(02:05):
I have these thoughts so often.
I ought to replace that slotwith what I once bought, cause
somebody stole my car radio andnow I just sit in silence.
It's an honest portrayal ofsitting in stillness when all
distractions are stripped away.
That's what spiritual drynessfeels like, when the noise fades
and you're left with justyourself.
And that's where faith beginsto grow, right there in the
quiet.
(02:28):
The world doesn't reallyunderstand this.
It tells us to fill the silencewith something anything but.
As followers of Christ, we'recalled to sit with the silence
and stay rooted.
It's not about chasing aspiritual high.
It's about believing God isstill with us, even if we don't
hear Him.
Dryness is an abandonment.
It's a chapter, not the end ofthe story.
So how do we hold on in thesedry spells?
It's simple, but not easy.
Just keep showing up.
Open your Bible even when itfeels dry.
Whisper a prayer, even if itfeels one-sided.
(02:49):
Reach out to someone who'swalked this road before.
This isn't about forcing abreakthrough.
It's about staying present evenwhen the skies feel empty.
That's how we endure thesilence raw, honest and real.
Let's keep going.
When God feels silent.
It's like a well that's run dry.
You're thirsty, desperate andscraping for something.
Anything that kind of spiritualdrought can make holding on
feel like grabbing sand.
But maybe it's not aboutwaiting for a flood, maybe it's
(03:12):
about discovering the smallstream that still flows, the one
that sustains you.
Just enough, let's look atanime Cowboy Bebop.
Spike Spiegel is a bounty hunter, drifting through space,
looking for purpose in the midstof silence.
In episode 5, ballad of FallenAngels, spike is falling
literally and emotionally,grappling with his past, no
answers in sight.
But he doesn't give up.
He keeps drifting, keeps going.
That's a picture of faith inthe dry times.
(03:33):
We may not have the fullpicture, but we keep taking the
next step.
Now consider 2 Chronicles 16, 9,.
For the eyes of the Lord moveto and fro throughout the earth.
That he may strongly supportthose whose heart is completely
His.
That's not a thunderousdeclaration, it's a quiet
assurance.
God isn't ignoring us.
He's watching, ready to supportus.
His silence isn't Him turningaway.
It's Him inviting us to stayclose.
(03:53):
Author Brendan Manning in theFurious Longing of God says In
the silence, god is not absentbut profoundly present, waiting
for us to stop performing andstart being.
That's a powerful shift.
We often assume silence meanswe've failed, but maybe it's
where God draws closest,inviting us to rest rather than
strive.
Holding on in these moments isless about doing and more about
being.
Let's jump into gaming.
(04:14):
An example would be the DarkSouls 2 video game.
You're this cursed characterwandering through a bleak world
where even the air feels heavy.
There are no clear directions,just the quiet and your resolve.
It's tough, but every stepmatters.
That spiritual dryness.
It's not always about grandvictories.
It's about showing up, Trustingthat each step forward matters,
even when it doesn't feel likeit.
In today's world, silence isavoided.
(04:35):
We drown it out with mediascrolling, constant chatter.
But we, as Christians, areinvited to be different.
Silence doesn't mean somethingis wrong.
It often means we're growing.
God isn't asking for polishedperformances.
He's asking for presence.
So, practically, what does thislook like?
Stay rooted.
When the silence feels endless,don't run.
Plant your feet.
Open scripture, even if itreads flat Pray, even if all you
(04:56):
can offer is a whisper.
Talk with someone who gets it.
This isn't about ending thedrought.
It's about learning to livethrough it, knowing God is still
the source.
Let's shift a little.
When God goes silent, it's likeyour signals drop.
No bars, no messages, juststatic.
That kind of dryness can feellike you've been forgotten.
But here's the truth.
It's not about chasing theconnection, it's about trusting
the call is still active, evenif you can't hear the ring.
(05:17):
Let's talk about some metalmusic, like the band
Underworld's song titled Writingon the Walls from their album
Define the Great Line.
That line is maybe we're justsleepwalking captures the
confusion and yearning in thesilence.
When the world is loud and Godis quiet, it's tempting to
sleepwalk through faith, butinstead we stay awake, we
wrestle, we wait, even when thesilence screams louder than the
noise.
(05:37):
Job 13.15 says Though he slayme, I will hope in him.
Nevertheless I will argue myways to his face.
That's raw faith he holds on.
Silence doesn't erase hope.
It tests it and through thetesting it refines it.
Francis Chan, in his bookForgotten God, reminds us we
forget that God's primary goalis not to make us comfortable
(05:59):
but to make us holy.
That's a hard truth.
Spiritual dryness isn't apunishment, it's a process.
God isn't ghosting us, he'srefining us.
And holding on through thesilence means trusting that the
discomfort has a purpose.
Let's bring in the legend ofZelda Majora's Mask.
You've got three days to save aworld that feels doomed.
The moon looms overhead andLink has no flashy speeches,
just a quiet determination tokeep going.
(06:19):
That's what spiritual drynessfeels like.
We might not hear the music,but we keep moving, trusting the
composer is still conducting.
The world runs from silence.
It fills the gaps withdistractions and noise, but as
believers we're called to standstill, even in the quiet.
Dryness isn't defeat.
It's the hard soil where deeproots grow.
How do we endure it Withcourage?
When the darkness feels close,don't flee.
(06:44):
Stay grounded.
Read the word, even when itfeels like routine Pray, even if
it's a sigh.
Sit with friends who understand.
It's not about escaping thesilence.
It's about embracing it,knowing God is still there with
you.
When God is silent, it's aboutembracing it, knowing God is
still there with you.
When God is silent, it's likeyou're wandering without a
compass, no pun intended.
You're unsure where to go,feeling lost in a haze.
Spiritual dryness can feel likedrifting.
Holding on in those momentsmeans finding your footing, even
when you can't see the path.
(07:04):
Let's talk about one of myfavorite manga and the original
anime from 1997.
We are talking about Berserk.
The character Guts walksthrough unimaginable pain.
After the eclipse he's brokensilent, yet he still picks up
his sword and moves forward.
That's the image of faith.
In the dry places we might feelshattered, but we keep going,
even when it's dark.
Isaiah, chapter 42, verse 16,says I will lead the blind by a
(07:25):
way they do not know, in pathsthey do not know.
I will guide them.
I will make darkness into lightbefore them and rugged places
into plains.
That's a promise.
God's silence doesn't mean he'slost us.
It means he's leading us evenwhen we can't see.
Christian author ElizabethElliot wrote in Passion and
Purity the growth of all livingthings requires waiting, and
waiting is not easy.
That's real talk.
Dry seasons aren't fast.
(07:46):
They stretch us, and holding onthrough them means trusting
God's pace, not forcing our own.
Folk music gives us anotherpicture Fleet foxes in
helplessness.
Blues reflect on searching formeaning in quiet spaces.
The line I was raised upbelieving I was somehow unique
carries the weight ofintrospection.
That's what dryness brings.
It peels back the noise so wecan rediscover who we are in Him
.
The world hates waiting.
(08:07):
It wants instant clarity.
But Christians know that fogisn't failure.
It's part of the journey.
We hold on, not because we see,but because we trust we are
still seen.
Practically, this means stayinggrounded when the compass spins
.
Take a breath, stay rooted inScripture, even when it's slow.
Off In scripture, even whenit's slow.
Offer up your prayers, evenwhen they feel empty.
Reach for steady hands.
It's not about clearing the fog, it's about walking through it
(08:28):
together.
When God is quiet, it can feellike the fire's gone out.
You're sitting in ashes,wondering if the flame will ever
return.
Spiritual dryness can leave youcold.
But here's the truth.
The coals are still burningeven when the blaze is gone.
In the Last of Us, a wearytraveler pushes forward through
a shattered, desolate land.
There's a scene by a crumblingbridge still haunting unanswered
.
Yet he lingers.
(08:48):
He doesn't turn back.
That's the picture of endurance.
You don't need all thesolutions, you just need to keep
standing there.
Psalm 46, verse 10 says Bestill and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among thenations.
I will be exalted in the earth.
That's striking.
God's call to stillness is anabandonment.
It's a steady, unshakablepresence.
He remains with us.
Dallas Willard, in Hearing Godwrites Silence is not the
(09:13):
absence of God, but the presenceof a living will that does not
need to speak to be real.
That changes everything.
Dryness doesn't mean God isgone.
It means he's working beyondwhat we can hear.
Think of John Coltrane's jazzclassic, nema.
The music is soft, spacious andpowerful.
Coltrane lets the pausesbreathe.
That's how God often works inthe spaces between the noise.
When we let the silence sit, wemay find he's been there all
along.
The world chases constantstimulation, but we can embrace
(09:35):
the quiet.
Dryness isn't defeat.
It's an invitation to deeperfaith.
We stay, not because it's easy,but because it's worth it.
What does that look like?
It looks like tending to thelittle things.
Open your Bible even when thepages feel silent.
Pray even if all you can offeris a sigh.
Share the journey with someonewho understands.
It's not about reigniting thefire.
It's about trusting that itstill burns.
Let's take one more turn.
(09:56):
When God is silent, it can feellike the stage is empty no
lights, no sound, just you andthe quiet.
It can feel like the show'sover, but maybe the director is
still at work behind the scenes.
In the comic book Preacher byGarth Innes and Steve Dillon,
jesse Custer is searching forGod, literally In issue number
one.
He's confused and hurt, but hekeeps going, he keeps searching.
That's what we do.
When God is quiet, we keepshowing up.
(10:18):
Micah, chapter 7, verse 8, saysDo not rejoice over me, o my
enemy.
Though I fall, I will rise.
Though I dwell in darkness, theLord is a light for me.
That's a declaration.
Darkness doesn't get the finalword.
God is still the light, even inthe shadows.
Thomas Merton once wrote in hisbook titled no man is an Island
.
True solitude is found in thewilderness of the heart, where
God speaks without words.
(10:39):
That's where transformationbegins.
The barren places peel back ourlayers, exposing who we really
are, and it's in that rawnessthat God steps in.
In Billie Eilish's Everything IWanted, there's a line.
I tried to scream but my headwas underwater.
It's a hushed, desperate vibeof plea that doesn't explode but
simmers beneath the surface.
No dazzling miracles or epicfanfare, just a fragile strand
of hope, keeping it together inthe dark.
(11:00):
Faith doesn't always roar.
Sometimes it's the quiet hum wegrip when the chaos dims.
The world might gloss overthese low-key beats, but we hang
on.
Emptiness isn't a flop, it'sraw faith.
We don't bail, we stick it out.
So how do we stay?
We stay seated when the stagegoes dark.
Don't leave.
Read, pray, hold space withothers.
It's not about curtain calls,it's all about trust.
When God is silent it can feellike the line has gone dead no
(11:24):
signal, no sound.
But holding on means believingthe call hasn't ended.
God is still on the other side.
In Ghost, in the Shell, majorquestions her soul in a quiet
world.
In the final scene she's stillsilent, but full of resolve.
That's us.
Even without clarity, we remainrooted in who God is.
Psalm, chapter 37, verse 7tells us Rest in the Lord and
wait patiently for Him.
37, verse 7 tells us rest inthe Lord and wait patiently for
(11:46):
him.
That's our posture Stillness,trust.
God hasn't disappeared.
He's inviting us to lean in.
Cs Lewis, in A Grief Observed,says I need Christ, not
something that resembles him.
That's honest.
In silence we find the realChrist, not the image but the
substance.
And we hold on.
Kavinsky's Night Call fromOutrun sets a slow, haunting
tone.
It's a call through the dark.
That's spiritual dryness.
We're not shouting into thevoid, we're trusting the line is
(12:07):
still open.
The world drops the call, butwe stay on.
Dryness doesn't mean we'redisconnected, it means we're
waiting.
We hold on, not because it'sclear but because he is near.
So how do we keep theconnection.
Stay dialed in.
Read scripture, pray throughthe silence, stay close to those
who walk with you.
It's not about forcing aconversation.
It's about trusting therelationship.
(12:27):
We've explored some heavyterritory today, those seasons
when God goes quiet and thesilence feels like a wall.
But here's your anchor God isstill here.
If you're sensing the need tograb hold of Him, even through
the silence, do it now.
Say yes to trusting Him.
Say yes to staying in thejourney, even when it's hard.
He's not far, he's right therewith you.
Let's pray, lord.
Thank you for being constanteven in the silence.
(12:48):
Give us strength to endure thedry seasons.
Help us hold on and draw uscloser through the quiet.
Meet each listener today in areal and personal way.
In Jesus' name, amen.
If today's episode resonatedwith you, explore more
faith-building resources atthecrossroadscollectiveorg,
where you will find theCrossroads Library, which has
free downloadable devotionals.
Also, please feel free to reachout to me anytime at jm at
(13:12):
thecrossroadscollectiveorg or atthecrossroadsot at gmailcom.
But before we close, I want toinvite you to a life-changing
moment.
If you're ready to step into arelationship with Jesus, to find
forgiveness, peace and a freshstart, take this step with me.
Simply say Jesus, I need you.
I believe you died for me androse again.
Forgive my sins, fill me withyour spirit and lead me into the
life you have for me.
If you just prayed with me,then welcome to the family and
(13:33):
my heart jumps for joy.
I also suggest you join a Biblepreaching church.
Search out friends who willhelp you on your new life.
Thank you for being part of theFaithful Geek podcast.
This is JM Collectibles, andremember to level up your faith
and geek out for God Until nexttime.
God bless you.
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