Silence Speaks Volumes

Silence in a relationship: Think about when your friends, family, significant other, or other person that you are close to are silent when you have been communicating often. Think about how you feel when they don't respond.

It speaks volumes.  It screams "I'm too busy for you"... "I don't care about you"... "You aren't worth my time"... "You aren't enough for me"..."There are so many important things in my life, and you aren't one of them."

When that happens it hurts.  It can truly cut into your core and make you feel less than worthy of attention, compassion, and love. It can wear away at the connection you had with that person.  It can eliminate the trust, and therefore breaking the bond between you.

As I was reflecting on the deafening silence today, I immediately thought that God must have felt this way with me many times before.  How many times have I placed other things ahead of my relationship with Him? How many times have I actively known that I wasn't praying daily, or being open to communication in prayer? How many times have I let myself get caught up in the things of this world and neglect my relationship with Him who is the source of all joy?

He must have hurt.  Actually, I know He hurt.  Just looking at the Crucified Christ. I know that He suffered, and continues to suffer, when I mistreat Him.  On that Good Friday, the world was silent towards Him.  The pain must have been excruciating to feel that everyone who He loved and cared about was being silent.  The deafening silence like a sword piercing His heart, like a crown of thorns being smashed onto his head, like nails being drive through His hands and feet. Every person, their own attack on His being through their silence.

But His love was greater than the silence.  His whispering voice of love was bigger than the deafening silence.  He conquered the grave, breaking the silence of death to love us, although we are unworthy after the pain that we cause Him.  He is greater than the silence.  And therefore, even when we are feeling the pain of silence from someone we care about, He is there with outstretched arms, the Crucified Christ, showing us that His love is the greatest love there is.  That He has forgiven us for the times we have hurt Him.  That His love is all we need.  And because of Him, I am worthy, I am cared for, and most importantly, I am loved by the One who created me.