When God Is Silent but Still Working

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. - John 20:1

Before anything miraculous happened after Jesus’ death, there was waiting.

Jesus had been crucified, buried, and sealed inside a tomb. Mary had watched everything unfold. She had followed closely, loved deeply, and now she believed the story had ended. Scripture tells us that after the burial, there was a stretch of time where nothing appeared to be happening.

No voices from heaven.
No visible movement from God.
No explanation for the pain.

Just silence.

This quiet space in the story matters more than we often realize, because it mirrors the seasons many people experience in real life. Moments when God feels distant. Seasons when prayers feel unanswered. Times when faith is tested not by suffering alone, but by waiting.

Silence can be unsettling. It tempts us to believe that God has stepped away or stopped caring. But the story of the empty tomb reminds us that silence does not equal absence.
While Mary waited, God was still at work. While grief filled the air, His plan was already unfolding. Even though Mary could not see it yet, everything was moving toward restoration.

Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Mary went to the tomb. That detail is important. God often begins His work before clarity arrives. He moves long before understanding catches up.

Mary came expecting to find loss. She came carrying sorrow. She did not arrive with hope or anticipation. She arrived with questions and grief. But the reality waiting for her was far greater than what she expected.

This teaches us something powerful. God’s work is not dependent on our expectations. He is not limited by our understanding. Even when we assume nothing is happening, He is still accomplishing His purposes.

Many people find themselves in quiet seasons like this. Waiting for direction. Waiting for healing. Waiting for answers. Waiting for clarity. It can feel like God has gone silent.

But silence is not inactivity.

The same God who was working behind the scenes in that garden still works today. He is active even when you cannot see it. He is present even when you cannot feel it. He is faithful even when circumstances suggest otherwise.

If you are in a season of waiting, do not assume the story is over. God often does His deepest work in the quiet places, long before the outcome becomes visible.

Silence may feel uncomfortable, but it is often the space where trust grows strongest.

And when God chooses to reveal what He has been doing all along, it will be clear that He was never absent. He was simply working in ways you could not yet see.

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