I got an email from a blog reader named Jesse yesterday. Who hasn't felt as she does? I got her permission to share this and I'm hoping a few of you can help her:

Hi Seth,
I typed in Google, "when god is silent." Done waiting for an answer. What happens when the scriptures aren't so? Wait for the Lord, He works all things for the good. He parted the red sea but can't give me any peace.

Readers don't comment unless you have lost a child. I'm filled to the brink with scriptures of all sorts. His grace is not sufficient for me. It is not well nor ever will be well with my soul. So, again where do you go when the promises in the scriptures simply fail? "I will restore what the locust have eaten."

Not so. Some losses just can't be replaced. What rips away even more is God's silence. Yes, he hears my cry and angels will surround me. Okay, now what? No more fluffy-filled answers. Losing my grip holding onto Jesus' words. I need more and the silence is so loud.

So I responded to her: "Thanks for writing. I appreciate your honesty and who can't relate to that feeling of a gap between God's promises and the reality of his presence? No easy answers. I've been there..."

One thing that won't help Jesse is a trite response. But if you've been there and have something that you think might help, please post your thoughts.

Postscript:  To see how God uses an incident like this to minister to others, please read thru the comments below, especially the interaction between Elizabeth and Jesse in Dec. of 2008 (15 months after this was written).  And to see how he worked "all things for good," please fast forward 15 months to this blog.