When God Feels Silent in Ministry

I stared at my phone, scrolling through prayer requests that felt more like a flood than a stream. Crystal’s cancer diagnosis. A friend battling depression. My heart stretched thinner than the last bit of peanut butter in the jar.

Meanwhile, my husband was buried in sermon prep. I was juggling praise team planning, emotional needs, and another late night of cold tea and yesterday’s mascara.

At 2am, I whispered, “God, are You even listening? Because I’m drowning here, and I can’t hear You at all.”

Maybe you’ve been there too; pouring out in ministry while feeling spiritually parched. Where you’re supposed to have answers but secretly wonder if God’s put you on hold.

Here’s what I’ve learned: God’s silence doesn’t mean His absence.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

This isn’t just a comforting verse. It’s a holy invitation. In Hebrew, “be still” (raphah) means to let go, to release, to stop striving. That verse came alive for me when I stopped trying to “perform faith” and simply rested in the One who carries it all.

Ministry can feel loud and demanding. But the quiet seasons? They’re often where God does His deepest work. He’s not punishing you. He’s preparing you.

Think of it like a garden. Seeds don’t grow because we hover and hustle. They grow in silence, underground, watered and nurtured by faith in what we can’t yet see.

The same is true for us.

During one of my driest ministry seasons, I began noticing God in the smallest moments—a steady peace while folding laundry after a tough conversation. A perfectly timed text from a friend who didn’t know I was struggling.

God wasn’t speaking less. I just needed to listen differently.

He shows up in hospital rooms, behind-the-scenes phone calls, praise rehearsals with one person, and in the stillness after a long day. He’s not waiting for you to be “more spiritual” before showing up. He’s already there, in the thick of your real life.

Ministry isn’t about always being “on.” Being a woman in ministry doesn’t mean you’re never weary. It means you’re learning to serve from a place of rest, not performance. You’re becoming a woman of God not because you never doubt, but because you keep choosing trust, especially when you can’t hear Him clearly.

And that trust? It’s what deepens your roots.

We often look for mountaintop moments, but real growth happens in the valley. When His voice seems quiet, He may be calling you to mature faith—the kind that says, “Even if I can’t trace Your hand, I’ll trust Your heart.”

When God feels silent, He may be inviting you to pause, breathe, and remember what He’s already spoken:

You are called.
You’re held.
You are not alone.

He doesn’t waste these quiet seasons. He uses them to deepen your joy, anchor your faith, and equip you for what’s next. Trust that what feels like stillness may actually be sacred preparation.

You don’t have to carry everything. You’re allowed to rest. You are allowed to feel. You’re allowed to be a woman in ministry who sometimes just needs a moment to exhale.

So take it.

Make space for stillness. Let His Word fill the silence. Let His presence meet you right where you are, messy bun, tired eyes, and all.

God is working, even when it’s quiet. He’s not far away. He’s closer than you think.

A Moment for Reflection

Where have you been straining to hear God’s voice?

What if, instead of listening harder, you simply rested in what He’s already whispered over your life?

What ordinary moment this week might be an invitation to encounter His quiet presence?

You are seen, supported, and so deeply loved. This space is for you. I want to help you find strength when you’re weary, clarity when you’re confused, and grace for every imperfect moment of this beautiful, messy calling we share.