When God is Silent — Saul & The Witch of Endor

Have you ever felt desperate for an answer to prayer, so desperate that when God seems silent, it feels unbearable? We've all been there: praying, waiting, hoping…and hearing nothing. When it feels like our prayers are going unanswered, it can stir up emotions like anxiety, fear, or even frustration. We start to wonder if God is listening—or if He cares at all.

In the tension between our need and God's timing, our hearts can grow restless—and we’re more likely to let our guard down. And in that vulnerable space, temptation to find a “quick fix” to our situation quietly finds its way in.

To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice

A great example of this is found in the story of King Saul. In 1 Samuel 15, King Saul found himself at odds with the prophet Samuel after a defining moment of disobedience that revealed his heart was drifting from God. Through Samuel, God gave Saul a clear command: to completely destroy the Amalekites and all they possessed as judgment for their past sins against the Israelites on their exit out of Egyptian bondage. But instead of fully obeying, Saul spared their king, Agag, and kept the best of the livestock, claiming it was so that they could make sacrifices to God. When Samuel confronted him, Saul tried to justify his actions rather than repent. Samuel’s response was sharp: To obey is better than sacrifice…because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king (1 Samuel 15:22, 23). It wasn’t just about what Saul did, it was about a heart that chose partial obedience and personal reasoning over full surrender to God’s word, something we need to consider for ourselves. That moment marked a turning point. Saul’s relationship both to Samuel and God was fractured, And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death (1 Samuel 15:35).

The Breaking Point

By the time we reach 1 Samuel 28, King Saul found himself at a breaking point. By this point, the prophet Samuel had died. The Philistines had gathered their armies together for war to fight with Israel. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly (1 Samuel 28:5). He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord was silent. God did not answer him by dreams, revelation or even through the prophets. In a desperate search for answers, he sought out the counsel of a medium in En Dor — the witch of Endor.

King Saul’s decision to seek out a medium was a tragic contradiction, one that revealed just how far he had drifted from God. Earlier in his reign, Saul had obeyed God’s law by banishing all mediums and spiritists from the land, knowing that such practices were detestable to the Lord. But in his desperation, overwhelming fear, and the silence of God—Saul panicked. Instead of waiting on the Lord, he sought out the witch of Endor, asking her to call the prophet Samuel up from the grave, hoping he would give him an answer to his troubles. This meant that Saul was breaking his own laws and violating God’s clear commands about consulting such methods for answers! It was a moment that showed how desperation without trust can lead us to places we never thought we'd go.

Samuel showed himself to Saul and gave him one last prophecy: that he would die that day in battle, fulfilling his words to Saul back in 1 Samuel 15:35, And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. This was that visit.

Where Is Your Breaking Point?

What do you do when God is silent?

• Spiritual shortcuts — Some of us seek out spiritual shortcuts like mediums, psychics, horoscopes, or tarot, not realizing they open doors to things God never intended, not to mention, things He detests.

• Self-reliance — Others turn to self-reliance, trying to control outcomes through planning and striving, rather than surrendering to God’s timing.

• Worldly advice — Others seek out worldly-advice, trends, influencers, or self-help gurus.

  
  

The story of Saul and the witch of Endor isn’t just about Saul’s mistake, it’s also a lesson for us, showing how temptation creeps in when we feel unheard. It reminds Christians of how easy it is to look for answers outside of God and in the wrong places, when God feels distant.

God’s silence can be one of the most difficult experiences in our faith journey, but it can also be the very thing that deepens our relationship with Him even more. Rather than grow impatient, let that time of waiting be a training ground for patient endurance and faithful obedience, deepening your relationship with Him. Your answer will come, but it will come in His perfect timing, when He knows you're ready and when it aligns with His greater purpose.

God Bless You Today,

Carole