This Christmas God Can Break the Silence

Have you ever made a phone call to a company and then was asked to stay on hold and instead of hearing music, you hear nothing? The line goes dead. For some people, the silence is awkward but for others, it’s a break from bad music. Personally, for me, I’d like to hear something. When I’m waiting and there’s no words or music, I’m not sure if the other person knows that I’m there. I’m worried that I’ll be cut off. The silence makes me feel isolated and alone. That is why when someone does come on and say something or ask me a question, I feel relieved.

Sometimes I feel like that with God. I feel God is silent. God, are you there? Do you even care about what’s going on in my life? I’m trying to talk to you, but all I get is silence. I’m not getting a word. I’m not getting a sign. I feel your silence.

Because I feel God is silent, I feel burdened. I feel like I can’t move forward because I am unsure of what is going to happen. God, I know you are there, but you are not talking.

The truth is we’re not the only one that has felt that way. The Christmas narratives are filled with stories of God being silent. But then something amazing happens, God breaks the silence.

After 400 years of silence, God finally speaks to his people. Just imagine living during that time. No word. No vision. No prophecy. Just silence. But then finally God speaks, and when he does it is not a small matter, it is something big. That something big was Jesus. The people of God realized that He was working while he was silent.

The same thing happens to Elizabeth and Zachariah. They were way past childbearing age and then God broke the silence. An angel announced that they were going to have a son named John. In God’s time, it happened and John came. His life was significant because he prepared the way for Jesus.

The same goes for Mary. One day, an angel approached her and broke the silence. He spoke and said to Mary, “You are highly favoured, and the Lord is with you.” Then the angel explained to her that God was choosing her to be the one to carry the Savior of the world.

And the same goes for Joseph. He learned that Mary, his fiancée, was now pregnant before getting married so he began to make plans to divorce Mary. He thought she had committed adultery and it was law that he could divorce her. But in the middle night, God broke the silence. He came to him in a dream and said to him that the baby that she was carrying was Jesus, and not to divorce her.

And what about those shepherds? Did God break the silence for them? He sure did. When Jesus was born there were shepherds in the field minding their own business, and the angel came to them and told them that Jesus was born. The men’s lives were changed from this moment. They went to find Jesus after hearing the good news. 

All of these people experienced the breaking of silence. And when God broke the silence, it was something big.

Maybe that is the whole point of silence. To be patient with God. To trust that he is working out something good while he is silent. God has not forgotten us. Rather his silence makes us seek him so that we learn to trust him and not ourselves or our circumstances. The length of time waiting and the silence points to something big that God is going to do in our lives.

Therefore, when it’s the right time, God will break the silence in our life. And when he does, we won’t be wondering anymore. We won’t have to pray about that situation anymore. God will do what he said he would do and then things will change.

The marriage will be saved.

The finances will flow.

No more doctor appointments.

There will be peace in our relationships.

And do you want to know the best part about God breaking the silence in our lives? It’s how we respond. How should we respond when God does a miracle or breakthrough? We do exactly what the angels and the people of God did.

Mary praised God. “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,” (Luke 1:46-47).

Zachariah praised God. “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.” (Luke 1:68).

The shepherds praised God. “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told” (Luke 2:20).

The angels praised God. “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:13-14 )

And that is exactly what we will do when God breaks the silence in our life. This Christmas season God can break the silence in our life and when he does will you praise him?