Does God's Silence Equate God's Absence?

I was reading about the life of Esther. Esther lived during a tumultuous time for the Jews. A man named Haman sought to destroy God’s people. In Esther 3:12-14 we read, “Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews — young and old, women and little children — on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.” However, God had a different plan and long before Haman sought to completely destroy God’s people, God positioned Esther to win the heart of King Xerxes and become his queen. Esther served God where she had been position and as she interceded and bravely interacted with King Xerxes, God saved an entire Jewish nation from annihilation. As I studied Esther's life, an interesting fact stood out. Esther was taken into King Xerxes palace in the 3rd year of His reign but did not become queen until the 7th year of his reign.

IMAGINE! Four years of silence! Four years of preparation! Surely Esther questioned, "WHY am I in this palace? What is the purpose of all of this?"

As I thought about this time of "waiting." I thought about David. In 1 Samuel we see Samuel anoint David to reign as Israel's future king. But then what happened?

I know I'd be thinking, Woo-hoo...palace here I come! But, according to Scripture, David went back to tending sheep.

Whew. More waiting!

Today, I reflect on my own life. I thought about how easy it is to get side-tracked and discouraged in the "waiting" times of life.

How about you? Ever get discouraged by the in between time? The time in between 'entering the palace and being positioned as queen?' Ever question "Why am I out here with these sheep? Wasn't I supposed to be in the palace?" Oh, we don't ask those specific questions. Ours are more like: "God didn't you promise..." "Didn't you say...." "Then why is .... happening?"

Friend, be encouraged. God's silence DOES NOT equated God's absence. He promises in Jeremiah 29:11-14, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity."

God is near. His plans are good. He is faithful. So consider this...While David tended the sheep, he learned to kill the bear. A skill that helped bring down Goliath. A 'feat' that ultimately positioned him in the palace.

I have a peaceful feeling that what we consider 'wasted years' actually prepare our character to receive the promise God gave; they refine our way of thinking and teach us to rely on GOD'S power, NOT our own.