The Holy Spirit stops our mouths because we need it. Every time He withholds comfort, we learn something of our inability. We see, by painful experience, that we cannot earn grace or do anything to make ourselves worthy of mercy. The application of gospel pardon and the revelation of Jesus Christ wait, not upon us to do better, but upon the perfect timing of God to give it. In Isaiah 40, it is called the withering work of the Spirit—"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass (vs7)." In Rom 3, it is the shutting up work of the holy law—"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God (vs19)." This withering work and this mouth stopping work is necessary. We must be taught that we are nothing without Him. The Psalmist prays, "O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me (Ps 7:1)." He is confessing that he has none other.
Our Lord Jesus Christ confessed that He had none other as He continually walked before the Father for our deliverance. He said, "I can of mine own self do nothing… I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me (John 5:30)." There are not two gods, and our attempt at being God must be punished. Thankfully, He sent the Lord Jesus Christ to accomplish it. He walked before God on our behalf, and rendered to Him the service He demands. And, there is no other way God will deal with sinners except by the Man that made satisfaction for them—"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time (I Tim 2:5-6)." In due time, which is always His time, the Father brings us to Jesus Christ and meets with us in the Person of His Son. You may seek comfort from this world, but if the Holy Spirit is withering you, you will find none. Like the Psalmist, and like our blessed Lord, we have none other.
So, take heed as you endure this withering work. It is not a matter of His cruelty or indifference. This too, like everything to your elect soul, is a matter of love. When the disciples came to our Lord during the storm, they were right to come to Him, in spite of their unbelief. But, after quieting the storm, the Master said, "Where is your faith (Luke 8:25)?" Why the rebuke? Because they came to Him with tremendous unbelief saying, "Master, master, we perish". No you don’t; you shall never perish. You’ve heard the Shepherd’s voice, and now you follow Him. He says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man [any circumstance or any disappointment] pluck them out of my hand." Therefore, come to Him with bold confidence, and do not let your circumstances make you distrusting.
In Philippians 4:6, He tells us, "Be careful for nothing". Don’t be anxious over things you cannot control. Your worrying about grace will never make grace come. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Oh, here’s some solid instruction! Pour out your heart to Him. Oh, What a comfort it is to have somebody to talk to on my knees that actually has the power to do something! Therefore, pour out your heart and hold nothing back from Him who sees the inside of you! No hypocrisy is needed, no pretense, and no hiding. Your very weakness and need cannot make Him reject you.
Secondly, amidst all of your petitioning, give THANKS. He is hearing you through Jesus Christ. Is this "thanks" begrudging? No sir. It is the first and most important touch of faith; it is possession of Jesus Christ as my sufficient everything. And, God promises us, us who are oft times wearied and prone to dejection because of His withering and mouth stopping work, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understand, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7)." The grammatical commas, periods, and question marks do not appear in the original Greek. But, the translators could have ended this great promise with an EXCLAMATION mark!
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