“Thus says the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.’”
Isaiah 30:15
Before the birth of Jesus, the world went through about four hundred years of prophetic silence. From the last announcement in Malachi until the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, there were no records of new direct revelations from God. For many, this silence could be interpreted as absence, but in truth, it was part of a plan carefully carried out by the Lord.
God’s silence is not empty, nor does it mean abandonment. It carries intention, preparation, and alignment. While there was no prophetic voice, God was arranging times, people, cultures, and circumstances for the greatest event in history: the incarnation of the Son.
The same happens with us. There are seasons when God seems silent, but that does not mean He has stopped working. Silence precedes spiritual births, maturity, and the fulfillment of promises. Not every silence is a “no”; often, it is simply a “not yet.”
A guarded promise
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a curse.”
Malachi 4:5–6
In Malachi 4, God closes the prophetic voice of the Old Testament with a promise: before the great and dreadful Day of the Lord, He would send a messenger to prepare the way. Even in silence, God made it clear that there was still a future, a fulfillment, and redemption on the way.
During those centuries without new prophecies, the people lived between expectation and uncertainty. Yet the silence did not cancel the promise; it only safeguarded it. God never forgets what He has promised. The waiting time does not erase His faithfulness—it tests our trust.
We learn that God’s silence does not contradict His Word. On the contrary, it sustains what has already been spoken. When we do not hear new directions, we are invited to remain firm in what He has already revealed, trusting that, in due time, His voice will speak again.
When god speaks again
“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.“
Luke 1:30
The silence is broken in a surprising way in Luke, when the angel Gabriel appears to Mary announcing the birth of Jesus. After centuries without prophetic revelation, God speaks again—not to kings or priests, but to a young woman who was simple and available to God. This reveals that the silence was preparing something entirely new.
The promise finally takes shape, body, and name. The Son of God would not come merely as a political liberator, but as the Savior of the world. Silence gave way to grace, hope, and the incarnation of divine love. Everything happened exactly at the time determined by God.
This teaches us that when God decides to speak, He does so with clarity and purpose. The silence was preparation for perfect fulfillment, not wasted time. When heaven moves, we realize that every moment of waiting had meaning.
The value of silence
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10
God’s silence continues to be a powerful tool in our lives. It teaches us to trust God’s character more than immediate answers. We often want daily confirmations, instant results, and everything our own way. Meanwhile, silence calls us to spiritual maturity.
Many times, we want to hear from God simply to relieve anxiety, but He uses silence to deepen our faith. It is in this space that we learn to rest, to wait, and to obey without visible guarantees. Silence reveals whether our faith is in the voice of God or in the God of the voice.
Just as before the birth of Christ, God is still working behind the scenes. If you are living through a silent season, remember: something may be being formed. Silence is not the end of the story—it is only the pause before a new birth.
