The Strength of Silence
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Lamentations 3:25-26
Good is the Lord to one who waits for him, to the soul that seeks him; It is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the Lord.
Grace Prayed For
I pray for the grace of Patient Waiting—that I may find peace in God’s presence even when I don’t see immediate “results” or answers.
Reflection
In our culture, waiting is often viewed as “wasted time.” We feel it at the red light, in the grocery line, or while watching a loading screen. But in the economy of the soul, waiting is never wasted; it is a period of deep, hidden growth. Lamentations suggests that the very act of waiting is where we encounter the “goodness” of the Lord.
The Discipline of the Silent Heart
There is a specific kind of strength found in “hoping in silence.” Most of our anxiety stems from trying to talk our way out of problems or “doing” our way into solutions. We treat prayer like a vending machine: we put in the request and expect the result immediately.
When we pray for the Grace of Patient Waiting, we are asking for the ability to let go of the “result.” Silence is the ultimate act of trust. It says, “Lord, I don’t need an answer right now to know that You are here.” It is the transition from seeking God’s hand (what He can do for us) to seeking God’s face (who He is).
Sitting Without an Agenda
Intimacy is often measured by the ability to be silent with another person without it feeling awkward. Think of two old friends sitting on a porch; they don’t need to fill every second with chatter to know they are cared for.
Lent invites us into this “porch-sitting” with Jesus. When we stop presenting our “to-do” lists to God, we create space for Him to speak—not necessarily in words, but in the quiet infusion of peace. This silence is a declaration of sovereignty: it acknowledges that God is in control of the timeline, and we are safe in His care.
The Saving Help of the Lord
The “saving help” mentioned in Lamentations often arrives not when we finally get what we want, but when we realize we are already held. The “good” that the Lord gives to the soul that seeks Him is often Himself. By waiting, our souls are stretched, making more room for His presence to dwell within us.
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Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post