Whenever I remember that account from the New Testament, I can’t help but wonder, “How could they doubt their safety and help when Christ Himself was with them?” The answer only recently hit me: Don’t we all need assurance? Isn’t it so easy to falter in our faith, especially at times when God seems to be so silent? Isn’t it so easy to doubt when the much needed balm in Gilead doesn’t come?”

There were times in my life when members bore powerful testimonies of miracles they had seen in their lives, and it made me wonder what was happening with my life. Why is it that sometimes, I don’t get powerful answers to my prayers, especially when I need them the most?

Challenges and trials are a part of our earthly life. Through our personal experiences, and the testimonies of others who have gone through challenges, we gain a personal testimony of how the Lord comforts those who stand in need of comfort. But there will be times when we experience the silence of heaven – times when the succor we so desperately need to help us stay afloat through the smashing waves just doesn’t come. In God’s silence, we can also cry out “Master, carest Thou not that we perish?”

“Master, carest Thou not that my depression and anxiety are slowly consuming me?”

“Master, carest Thou not that my illness doesn’t seem to have a cure?”

“Master, carest Thou not that my righteous goals seem to be so unachievable?”

“Master, carest Thou not that nobody seems to understand how painful it is to lose a spouse or a child?”

Fear can easily replace faith when towering waves threaten us in our journey. As we brave the enormous waves crashing against our boats, we may frantically look for help only to realize that the Lord has not really left our boat. He is right beside us on our rough journey. There are times when God is silent to help strengthen our faith, but He is still with us.

Like every well-meaning parent, the Lord sometimes chooses to be silent, not because He doesn’t love us or feels that we’re unworthy of His love and mercy. His silence – in a way – is an expression of His love.

God’s silence helps us develop the faith to simply do what we can do

When my son started walking, I made sure I was with him every step of the way. Time passed and his baby steps turned into big leaps – leaps that caused him to sometimes fall down. I remember how one fall caused him to cry harder than usual. Instead of pulling him up, I watched what he would do next. Eventually – still crying – he rose up without my help, and began smiling again.

The Lord sent us here to “prove [us] herewith” – this includes letting us make our own choices. Like a wise parent, the Lord won’t always hoist us up, but instead lets us find out for ourselves what we should do. Simply moving forward despite the storm – even through God’s silence – will help us develop stronger faith and testimonies.

God’s silence helps us trust in His timetable

The Prophet Joseph Smith experienced incredibly heavy trials and tribulations during the early days of the Church. Struggling under the weight of these trials, the Prophet prayed, as recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 121. In his desperation, the Prophet cried out “O God, where art Thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth Thy hiding place?”

However, in an interesting response, the Lord did not tell him when all his afflictions would end. Instead, the Lord reminded him that all the challenges he was going through would be for his own good. During that time, the Lord comforted him, but He also asked the Prophet to “endure it well.” This powerful example shows that the Lord – in His infinite mercy – is always there to help. But His help does not always mean we will have a hardship-free life. In His silence, the Lord teaches us to trust His timetable, to hold on to faith, and to endure our afflictions well. All of our challenges will come to an end – but we need to trust the Lord first.

When God is silent, He helps us reach out and hold on to Him more

God’s silence allows us to assess our relationship with Him. Did we take a few steps away from Him? Have we truly taken the time to listen? Do we truly understand how He speaks to us? Experiencing silence from the heavens helps us reach out to and listen to the Lord more.

“Master the Tempest is Raging” – a hymn inspired by the account from Matthew 8 – bears a powerful line: “No waters can swallow the ship where lies the Master of ocean, and earth, and skies.” No matter how high the waves are, or how vicious the sea is, you will be able to endure your afflictions as long as you turn to the Lord. He may be silent now, but in His own time, He will rise and calm the storms and winds of your life. Trust God’s silence.

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“Trust in the Lord’s timing; he knows what’s best for you and your family.”

I have heard this statement often and, without a doubt, is a bold testimony from individuals who have had to wait upon the Lord’s timing and were blessed because of their patience and trust in Him. Every time I hear stories that include this theme, I feel in my heart an overwhelming sense of assurance that what they are telling me is true. However, why is it that when it comes to my life, I have a hard time holding on to this truth?

Ever since I was young, I’ve loved planning. If a competition is important to me, I am the kind of person who plans two months ahead just to make sure I will have total control of the situation. I love the feeling of being in control of things.

But sometimes, life reminds us that we are not always in control of things. There will be moments when we have to put our faith in the Lord’s timing. I learned this truth to a greater degree, when I decided to settle down with my husband.

Suddenly, the dream job that we both wanted was given to someone else, our desires for a child had not yet been granted, and the question of where to truly settle for good, was left hanging in the air. The future looked bleak, at least for me.

My mother loved to remind us of President Thomas S. Monson’s words, “the future is as bright as your faith.” I had faith in the Lord, and I had faith that He has provided us with a wonderful plan for the future. But trusting in His timing was another story. It was just so hard to wait.

I remember that Christmas Eve, my heart overflowed with heaviness, anxiety, and hopelessness for the future. The plans I had for myself and for my future family were righteous and important but it seemed as though they were out of reach. The people around me seemed to have the desires of their hearts granted; were my hopes and dreams not right? I poured out my heart in prayer asking for more faith to trust in the Lord’s timing. With tears in my eyes, I asked the Lord if I was not worthy of His promised blessings. “I am your daughter, right? Why is it that the plans I have set are not falling into place?” After a heartfelt prayer, I was prompted to open a General Conference talk from Sister Neill Marriott entitled “Yielding our Hearts to God.” A particular line from her talk struck a personal chord with me:

“I have struggled to banish the mortal desire to have things my way, eventually realizing that my way is oh so lacking, limited, and inferior to the way of Jesus Christ. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. Can we love Jesus Christ and His way more than we love ourselves and our own agenda?”

Right then and there, I realized that all along, it had been about “my” plan and the timing “I” wanted. After reflecting on this talk, it dawned on me that I had never tried to ask the Lord what He has planned for my family and I. During the process, my faith that the Lord’s timing was the best and that I needed to wait upon Him wavered. I was too preoccupied with the thought that “my” plans were not working out, which led me to feel sad, angry, frustrated, and bitter. I failed to realize that I needed to trust more in the Lord’s timing.

After that humbling experience, I still had little struggles with being faithful and positive about His plans and His timing. But as I learned how to put my faith in His timetable, I was able to see the many blessings that I never saw before. The blessings may not have been as extravagant as what some other people around me received, but they were many and they were a testimony that the Lord was absolutely mindful of his faithless daughter. From that experience, I became a witness that the Lord truly knows the blessings He plans to give us; sometimes, we just have to wait.

There are times when we just have to wait for that perfect job to come, in order for us to support our family without having to worry every month. Often, some of us need to wait for healing. Many of my single friends have to bear with faith the years of waiting for their eternal companions to finally come into their lives. At times, an ever-trusting parent needs to wait for their children to come back to the fold. Life is filled with moments of waiting and trusting in the Lord’s timetable. Delaying our plans isn’t always easy, but it teaches a powerful lesson and helps build our faith.

I add my testimony to Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s when he said:

“Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come.”
I know that the Lord’s timetable is the best. There are still some things on my bucket list that haven’t been given to me but I know that if it is according to His will, He will provide. He knows our past, our present, and our future, therefore, He knows what blessings to give us for our good. Let us have faith and wait upon the Lord.

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