1) Where is my focus?  How much have I truly wanted God and how much may I actually be desiring the things of the world (safety, health, physical needs…)?

2) When did I last hear Him and what did He say?  Was I obedient with the last message He gave me?  Did I learn and grow from it?  Was it an encouragement that I need to rest in during this rough time?  An exhortation that I still need to obey?

3) What things am I hearing and who is saying them?  Am I believing deceptive spirits and worldly advice?  Is the Lord speaking in small ways that I’ve brushed off as something else?

4) Am I really listening for Him?  Have I limited His response by assuming He will say something particular?  Am I open to Him speaking whatever He wants through any means?

5) Have I been willing and able to rest in His presence in silence?  Does my faith depend on His affirmation, or can I abide in Him knowing His silence is not an absence?

6) Do I know His voice well or is a personal encounter and relationship with God something I need to put extra focus on?  May it be that His silence is a hint for me to look for Him more thoroughly–an invitation that He’s hiding so that I can find Him?

7) How can I simplify my life to make room for the Lord’s voice?  How can I position myself to receive more of the Holy Spirit?

Have I forgotten anything?  Can you think of other helpful things to reflect on and consider when God seems distant, silent, or absent?