By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

Several readers over the past few days testified that they are currently going through tough times. One reader asked: “Why isn’t God answering my prayers?!” Do you also experience a “quiet time” in your relationship with God?

During the Second World War, many Jews hid from the Germans in caves. Later on, a poem was discovered against one of the walls in such a cave:

“I believe in the sun even if it is not shining;

I believe in love, even if it is absent;

I believe in God even if he remains silent.”

From time to time we also experience quiet seasons in our lives. We pray for direction and guidance. Silence. We pray for a spouse. Silence. We pray for a job promotion. Silence. We pray for healing of an illness. Silence. We pray for a baby. Silence. Or we pray for financial recovery - and experience silence. What is your reaction amidst these silences?

Moses experienced a quiet time in the wilderness he fled to after killing an Egyptian. Joseph also experienced a quiet time in the Egyptian prison after being thrown into jail for false allegations from Potiphar's wife. And mankind experienced a quiet season of 400 years from the last message from God in the Old Testament and the coming of Jesus.

Is God absent in quiet seasons? Of course not. He is always at work – in the quiet seasons, God works underground. Like a plant's roots need to grow downwards in order for the plant to remain standing when it has sky rocketed, our character and faith also needs to be strong enough so we would remain standing when God brings about a sudden enlargement of our territories. The test therefore remains in the quiet seasons. God wants to make sure that we are ready for increase.

In Psalm 46:10 we read: “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honoured by every nation. I will be honoured throughout the world.”

Moses remained faithful. For 40 years he got to know the desert very well. Little did he know that at age 80, God would call him for the most important job of his life: "Lead the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land" - precisely through this desert. Joseph passed the character test as well, and after 12 years in prison, God promoted him in one day from being a prisoner to being second-in-command of Egypt. And when mankind was ready, the prophecies of a Saviour set in our hearts, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ to save us from sin.

Let’s be thankful to God for the "quiet seasons” in our lives, knowing that He is probably working underground in our lives. And let’s pass the character test so we can experience God’s sudden increase. Remember, God never makes mistakes. His timing is always perfect. God bless.

Father God, thank you that You are never absent in my life. Help me to stay strong in my faith in these times and to pass the character test. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

• MONTH THEME: Let’s live thankful. Are you thankful that God forgave you or that He helped you forgive someone that harmed you? Share your thoughts with us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.