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Hello everybody and welcome to a new not just a new episode but a new series here on walking the way with Dr. Carlos Quijada. I am your host, uh Dr. Carlos Quijada, and I am so uh glad to have you join me today in this uh new podcast episode. I know that it's it's been a couple of weeks since uh we've been kind of quiet, and and I I think this really weaves into the topic that I'm gonna start uh today, which is really interesting. So if you started watching, I want to ask you if you could please share this video with as many contacts as you can. I know that this uh message reflection is gonna bless a lot of people, but uh this week I'm gonna start on this new series that is titled Faith in Real Life. Last time we concluded with a series that it was a great way to start. Uh, it was our very first series here in this podcast, and and this time we're gonna uh move on to this uh next few weeks in which we're gonna be talking about different uh topics related to faith in real life. And when I started this uh podcast, uh or I was planning to start this podcast, one of the things that God put in my heart is to uh create a space where uh I can share some thoughts, reflections of things that we deal with as human beings and how to apply truth in those situations. Uh we we will have guests every now and then, and actually I'm I'm expecting to have someone in our next episode uh to just continue this conversation about faith in real life. And and today's uh episode is titled The Silence of God. And I want to ask uh a question that you probably ask yourself oftentimes. Uh have you ever felt that God is silent? Uh why doesn't God answer? You probably have asked, I know I have asked myself that question. Uh and sometimes I people come to me and I even feel this way. Is God really listening to me in this moment? There are times in which we pray and pray and and and we go through situations. Sometimes people that uh might not be attending church, but then when go through a crisis, they they have learned to call on to the name of God, and and and there is no no response. And I know that can be very frustrating, especially in this messy world that we live in, where there's so much pain, so much suffering, um, so much confusion, and and honestly, uh we are in a time where we question a lot of things. Some people might question everything. So if if this is you, which uh I'm pretty sure you are, I'm sure that you as a as an individual have gone through those times. I I want you to please pay attention to these words that I'm gonna share with you today. Um, you know, we asked ourselves, like, why does this happen? Why, why these situations occur in our lives? And and and there are times in which we might not get a clear answer, or we might get answers that are going to surprise us. Um a little personal note, and I'm gonna be uh a little more vulnerable this time, uh, because I I want to share a personal testimony. Uh years ago, uh I I met who is my lovely wife, and uh she at the time I was already uh pastoring in in New Jersey where I was living at the time, and she was a minister in training at her church, and and we met, we became friends, and out of that friendship, uh romantic love came, and and you guys know how those stories go. And we got engaged, we got married, and uh being the child of a large family, one of the things that I uh dreamed of was to have uh children. Actually, I told her when we were uh still in the engagement time, and I said, you know, uh Darlene, I I would like to have several kids, and she's like, okay. Um and and we we had these great dreams and and desires, and we were people that were uh faithful, going to church and serving and doing all these things. So fast forward, marriage came. Uh we we had a lovely wedding, and and and shortly after uh uh the wedding, and we started our lives as husband and wife, uh, we we get this um news from a doctor that um infertility was uh a part of our uh life at that moment, and it was a big uh shocker. Uh it was something that for uh several years we we dealt with. And um I remember uh we would pray and people would pray for us and and uh they would say words, you know, I I I can sense that this is the year you guys are gonna have a child, and and I see it, and and then that year would come and and then would end, and no child in sight. And it came to a point in which uh I personally and I know my wife, she was going through her own uh struggles. We were questioning, like, it's is God really listening? It's like, you know, like hello God, are you home? Are you there? And um it was a journey in which we needed to learn to trust God in those times of silence. And I remember that one uh day I was in my my little home office and I was just praying to God, and and I was like, you know what, God, I believe that you have to say only one word, and it's going to be done. For us, some things are impossible, sometimes things may be uh uh very hard. There's nothing we can do about it. We as human beings, we can't uh uh cost life to flourish or to to exist, but God only has to say the word. So I said, you know, if if you haven't done it, you know why. I don't understand it. Uh you know my desire, but I'm just gonna surrender that to you. And uh from that moment on, I was like, you know, whether God gives me a child or not, I'm still gonna serve him, I'm still gonna uh uh continue to worship him and and uh fast forward months pass by and and and God he gave us the child that we were praying for. And and this is just one of many testimonies. I I could go on and on uh sharing those times of silence in which uh I've prayed, uh people that are close to me have prayed and they haven't heard any response from God. But the truth of the matter is that when God does respond, when he does show up, it might his response might be a no. Not always God gives us what we ask for, but one of the things that we need to learn in this walk of faith is that whatever that response may look like, it is a perfect response when it comes from God. Faith is not um magic. There are times that people they get uh impatient, they uh start questioning God because they set expectations that might not be in alignment with what God wants for their lives. And we uh believe whether consciously or subconsciously, that we are able to micromanage God. And the reality is that God is so great, he's the source of everything, and we can't control the plans that he has. All we can do is partner up with him and walk in this path alongside of him, and things will end up way better than we can expect and dream of. A lot of individuals in the Bible went through experiences in which they were faithful, they were doing the will of God, and yet they went through stuff that uh maybe in that moment it seemed unfair. Like, why good people suffer? We have the example of Job. Job was the man that even God Himself said there's no one as faithful and loyal to God as this man, Job, and he was uh super blessed. He had a lot of things, had uh beautiful children, uh a lot of cattle and sheep, and things that at the time were considered uh characteristics of a very, very wealthy uh individual, and yet uh the Lord allowed the enemy to wipe out everything he had. And and for a long time, Paul Job didn't have a clue why these things were happening. He started questioning uh if there was something that he did. He started questioning God as a just judge until the day came when God showed up and showed him that, you know, Job, no matter what, I'm I'm still in the throne, and and everything is under my control. And Job came to that uh conclusion, you know, I was talking things I didn't understand. I I was uh just questioning things, but from now on, I'm just gonna stay silent and just trust in the Lord, and God blessed him, uh double for his trouble, like we say. And and and we also have another example that I want to share, and it's the life of Elijah. Elijah, uh, he was a prophet. It's uh we can read about him in 1 Kings uh chapters 18, 20. Um, he he uh ministered during the time of Ahab. He was one of the most wicked kings that Israel had had in history. Um Elijah, God used him as an instrument to confront all these uh uh people that were uh serving a false God called Baal. And after a great victory in a place called Mount Carmel, where uh he confronted these prophets and showed them that the true God is the God of Israel. Um and I invite you to read the story more in detail. But after this victory, Ahab's wife, whose name was Jezebel, she wasn't happy about this. So she says, You know what? I swear for all the gods that I serve that Elijah, he's dead, he's a dead man. And Elijah, after that great victory, he got scared and he ran far away from his area of ministry and he hid in a cave. And the Bible tells us that uh there was an earthquake, there was uh a strong wind, like a tornado, uh, there was uh uh a fire, there was all these loud uh natural phenomena, but God was not endorsed uh loud things, but then there was this silent whisper, and he was able to hear the voice of God. God is not like a microwave, and you know, we live in a time in which we want things fast, we want things uh like in a microwave. Our God, He He's a God that He has a perfect time for everything that uh is under the sun, and and there are moments of our lives in which there's that silence, and maybe you are going through that time right now in which you're asking yourself, where is God in all this? Kind of like Goliath when he was in that cave. Maybe you're you're surrounded by danger and and and a lot of difficult situations. God is preparing you for a next step, even if you can't feel it. Because you know what? Faith, it's not about what we feel. People they seek uh experiences, they seek physical evidence, uh, maybe feeling goosebumps or or maybe being in a place where there's a lot of noise and a lot of uh commotion. Um, and yes, God can be in those moments uh because God he's omnipresent, like he's everywhere. But if there is none of that, that doesn't mean that he's not there, and it is so important, my friend, for us to learn to trust him even when we don't feel it, even when we don't uh know what's going on, or or we might have doubts as to where we're going. It is important for us to stay put and trust in him. So what do we do when it feels like God is silent? You might be asking, okay, uh where am I what what am I gonna do? What what's the next step? Because yes, we uh I know when sometimes we're on a road trip and we don't know where we're going, and we have the navigation system. If if the navigation system is out, how how do we know where to go next? When is the next turn? When is the uh uh uh the next what's the exit that we need to take? Well, when it comes to this uh walking in faith, the first thing we need to do is keep showing up. Uh there's some practices that we can do. Prayer is a great ally. Uh, and also reflecting on the word of God and and worship, even if it feels empty. Sometimes people feel like, and it has happened to all of us, and I'm like, man, I don't even feel like lifting my hands, I don't feel like worship. But those are those moments in which we need to push ourselves a little bit and be like, you know what? Even if I don't feel it, I'm still gonna show up. It's kind of like when we don't feel like going to work. Uh, and then we remember it's like that that emoji that you know, sometimes I don't feel like working. That emoji, that uh um that meme. Uh sometimes I don't feel like working, but then I remember I have bills to pay, and then I I just have to show up. And it's just a thing that we do, right? At least most of us. I maybe you don't work, you don't need to work. I mean, but still you have to show up to something, right? Um, in the same way, if you know, we we might need a paycheck, but most more than a paycheck, we need the presence of God, we need to be led by Him. So no matter how we feel, it is important for us to be like, you know what? I am going to show up and pray to God in the midst of this confusing season. Faith is as much about action as it is about uh feeling. Sometimes we might not feel it, but we can still act. And sometimes you might feel like, man, I really feel God. Great. If you're in that season right now, that's awesome. But if you feel that God it's not there, He is faithful, He is there because we don't walk by sight or by feelings or by emotions, we walk by conviction. That's the first thing. Keep showing up. Second thing that we can do is reflect and journal. In my practice as a counselor, I I recommend people to write down your thoughts, your your feelings, uh, document, even if it's uh some quick notes about your day, how how you're experiencing these journeys, uh uh uh your frustrations too. Uh a lot of the psalms that we have in the Bible were written during times of crisis when uh either David or whichever the author was was going through a moment of despair, and yet we have uh we this uh conservation of these amazing words that have served uh as encouragement for millions and millions of people throughout thousands of years. Uh, sometimes when we see our journey on a piece of paper, it can help us have more clarity. I remember when I was going through my journey uh with infertility alongside with my wife, I used to write down those experiences and and and what a testimony to look back on how I was going through that process and then the outcome on how God worked things out at the end, that uh it just inspires me to share with others. And and I know some parents might be watching that or or some want to be parents, and and they're like, Well, but will that be my reality? You know, at the end of the day, we need to zoom out and see what is God's plans for my life. Sometimes his plans are beyond having children. In our case, we were uh embracing the idea, well, if we're gonna adopt and and and give a home to some uh homeless orphan child, so be it. Uh, so we we need to be open to what God wants for our lives because not always, like I said in the beginning, God will give us what we want, but He gives us what we truly need. Another point of something that we can do is talk to someone. You don't have to walk through silence alone. Uh, trusted friends, mentors, or spiritual leaders can provide some perspective, or or if you uh can connect with uh a counselor, that can be very helpful. My contact information is on the screen. Uh if if you want counseling, I'm I'm here for you as well. Uh I would love to walk in your journey with you. Amen. So whatever it is, you don't have to walk alone, talk to someone, and and fourth, look for evidence, even small moments of grace, beauty, or kindness, these are signs that God is still present. Don't dismiss those brief moments in which you can see God at work, even in those small details. And remember, feeling distant doesn't equal being abandoned. Just because you feel distant does not mean that God has abandoned you. So before we close from today, I just want to invite you to reflect on this. When was the last time you felt God was silent? And how did you respond? I would love to hear your story. Uh, I want us to to engage in this conversation and to encourage one another. You can leave a comment uh or connect on social media. My uh social media information is also on the screen. Uh, you can and if you're just listening, you can find me under Pastor Carlos Quijada on Facebook. And and you can follow me and you can connect with me, send me either a private message or just comment on this uh podcast. I I want this to be a conversation and a space where we can just learn from each other about living faith in real life. So I thank you so much for tuning in today. I pray that these uh reflections have really helped encourage your faith. Uh, remember that God has a plan for you, even if you don't see it right now or you don't feel it, He is a God of purpose, a God of perfect plans. So thank you so much for listening in this first episode of this new series, Faith in Real Life. Next time we're gonna talk about faith versus anxiety. Can they really coexist? Can faith and exact and anxiety be together? And it's a conversation you won't want to miss. So uh stay tuned for uh more episodes here in this podcast, Walking the Way with Dr. Carlos Quijada. So this is Dr. Carlos Quijada here blessing you and praying that you have an amazing week. God bless you, and until next time.