Cicada Silence

Nº 147 weekly devotions to refresh your soul by Dr. Dan Bolin - May 25, 2021

“God’s silence is more than man’s speech. God’s negative is better than the world’s affirmative. Have thy prayers been followed by a calm stillness? Well! Is not that God’s voice – a voice that will suffice thee in the meantime till the full disclosure comes? Has He moved not from His place to help thee? Well, but His stillness makes thee still, and He has something better than help to give thee.” George Matheson

The cicadas have arrived. Billions - maybe trillions - of the little bugs have emerged after 17 years underground. They are everywhere, disrupting life in the northeastern part of the United States. Their lifecycle is simple: the eggs are laid in trees, the larvae hatch and drop to the ground, then they burrow into the dirt surviving on root sap for 17 years. In unison they emerge for a few weeks to mate, lay eggs, and die. Quite predictable, quite remarkable. For 17 years the world forgets they exist – out of sight, out of mind. But they are busy doing what cicadas do until the appointed time to become visible and active. Throughout history, God has chosen to limit His demonstrative intersections with mankind. Miracles, many at times, show His power and love. But most days, sometimes centuries, He is silent. But just because we don’t see Him does not mean He is not there. Paul reminded the Corinthians of that wonderful but challenging truth, “We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) In His good timing, as He sees fit, He will allow us to see His loving, active care. Until then, we live by faith, not by sight.

Dan Bolin President Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc