Father Thomas, a weekly column where readers share their questions about faith, family, relationships, and life’s challenges. Each week, Father Thomas offers practical wisdom and spiritual guidance rooted in Scripture and the teachings of the Catholic Church.
DEAR FATHER THOMAS: I’ve been praying for months. Every day I ask God to guide me, to help me, to show me what He wants me to do. But I hear nothing. People talk about feeling God’s presence or knowing His voice, but I don’t know what that’s like.
The harder I pray, the more it feels like I’m talking into empty space. Has God stopped listening to me? Or am I doing something wrong? — WAITING IN SILENCE
DEAR WAITING IN SILENCE: Thank you for writing so honestly. Many faithful Catholics have asked this same question, even if they were afraid to say it aloud. It is easy to believe that if God feels silent, He must be absent. But Sacred Scripture tells a different story. Job cried out in suffering. David repeatedly asked, “How long, O Lord?” Even on the Cross, our Lord entered into the depths of human suffering and cried, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” Yet the Father’s love had never left Him.
Prayer is not measured by what we feel. It is measured by our faithfulness. Sometimes God allows seasons of silence not to push us away, but to draw us into a deeper trust. Like a loving father teaching his child to walk, He remains close even when we cannot feel His hand. Continue to pray. Be faithful at Mass, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and spend time before the Blessed Sacrament when you can. Christ is present there, even when your heart feels quiet.
If this spiritual dryness has become especially heavy or prolonged, speak with your parish priest or a trusted spiritual director. The Church has long helped souls through seasons like this. Remember this: God’s silence is never the same as God’s absence. Often, He is doing His deepest work in our hearts long before we can see it. Until next time, may the peace of Christ be with you.
Have a question for Father Thomas? Email us at dearfather@ycvf.org. While we can’t respond to every message personally, your letter could be selected for a future episode.
