I imagined myself sitting at the Lord’s feet and hearing His words for the very first time: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
I raised my hand to make a comment and to ask the Lord a question. I said, “Lord, I hear those words and my heart says, ‘Yes!’ I want that. So how do I apply that to my life today, in my present situation?”
No, He didn’t respond verbally. Nor did He give me any special enlightenment. There was just silence. I was left to figure it out on my own. Apparently.
It’s not that the Lord was being difficult or indifferent or random. The timing of His instruction is critical to my understanding of it. That bears repeating and emphasis: The timing of the Lord’s instruction is critical to my understanding of it. His timing is often dependent on our readiness to hear and to receive.
As He once said to the disciples who walked with Him, “I have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them right now” (John 16:12). There is an old saying, when the student is ready the teacher will appear. When the disciple is ready, Jesus’ words will become clear, and the Holy Spirit knows when we are ready better than we know ourselves.
From His silence I learned an even more important lesson. The Lord wants me to do more than apply His word; He wants me to trust in Him. That is exactly the point of the passage I was questioning Him about. Trust in Me. Rely on Me. Wait on me. Don’t force the fruit. Bear it. In due season.
Praise the Lord for His non-answer answers.
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