Dwell: The Waiting
Dwell: WEek 3 : The Waiting
Week 3 shows that God is still working in the dark, still speaking in the silence, and still moving in the waiting. The 400 “silent years” remind us that even when we can’t see or hear God, He is preparing the way. We dwell by leaning into His light, His Word, and His perfect timing.
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DWELL — WEEK 3 BLOG
Between the Old and New Testaments lies a period known as the “400 silent years”—a stretch of time where God did not speak through prophets, visions, or recorded miracles. Darkness deepened. Empires rose and fell. Culture shifted. And heaven seemed quiet.
But silence is not absence. And waiting is not wasted.
Darkness Does Not Mean God Has Left
Israel endured oppression, cultural upheaval, political turmoil, and spiritual drought. They longed for a Messiah, a rescuer, a light. And though they could not see what God was doing, He was still moving behind the scenes.
The same is true for you.
Your dark season is not the end of your story. Darkness often becomes the canvas where God’s light shines the brightest.
Silence Does Not Mean God Has Stopped Speaking
When God seems quiet in your life—when prayer feels unanswered, direction feels unclear, and Scripture feels flat—it’s easy to assume the worst. But silence is not punishment. Sometimes it’s preparation.
And God still speaks through His Word. When you can’t hear Him through circumstance, you can still hear Him through Scripture. His voice hasn’t vanished—you simply meet Him in a different place.
Waiting is Where God Often Does His Best Work
While Israel waited…
A universal language was forming.
Roads were being built across Rome.
Cultures were converging.
History was aligning.Galatians 4:4 says that Jesus came in “the fullness of time”—the perfect time.
Your waiting is not empty; it’s ordered. God prepares the road before He sends the miracle.
Dwell in the Dark. Dwell in the Quiet. Dwell in the Wait.
When life feels like the “in-between,” dwell where God is working, not where your fear is whispering.
• In darkness — dwell in His light.
• In silence — dwell in His Word.
• In waiting — dwell in His timing.God is never idle in your in-between. He is forming something, preparing something, aligning something.
Christmas reminds us:
God shows up right on time. -
Small Group Curriculum – DWELL
Week 3: In Between the Testaments
Main Scripture: John 5:17 (NLT)
Big Idea: God is still at work in the dark.1. Connect (Icebreaker)
Fun: Share a time when you had to wait for something (mail, food, answer)—how did it feel?
Personal: Have you ever felt like God was silent in your life?
Transition: Just like Israel between the Old and New Testaments, we sometimes go through seasons of darkness, silence, and waiting.
2. Discover (Scripture & Discussion)
Read John 5:17; Isaiah 9:2; Galatians 4:4–5 (NLT).
Discussion Questions
What do these passages reveal about God’s activity during dark or silent seasons?
How do you see parallels between Israel’s waiting and your own waiting seasons?
Why is it important to believe God is working even when we don’t see it?
What habits help you dwell in God during silence, darkness, or waiting?
Dig Deeper Scripture: Hebrews 4:12.
How does Scripture act as God’s voice when we feel like He’s silent?
What’s one practical way you can let Scripture shape you this week?
3. Respond (Application & Prayer)
Personal Application
Where do you feel like you’re in a season of silence, darkness, or waiting?
Which truth comforts you most: God’s light, God’s Word, or God’s timing?
Group Prayer Prompt
Pray for those in dark or waiting seasons to see God’s light.
Ask God to strengthen trust in His timing and His Word.
Challenge for the Week
Memory Verse: Galatians 4:4 (NLT).
Next Step: When you feel silence or waiting, pause and read one Scripture aloud daily to remind yourself God is still speaking.
⏱️ Designed for 45–60 minutes
Connect (10–15 min)
Discover (25–30 min)
Respond (10–15 min)
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