Joy Beyond the Silence

In Vienna, I went to see and pray at the tomb of Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven has always been one of my favorite composers. I remember the first time I heard the 2nd movement of his “Emperor Concerto” performed live in Strasbourg by the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra. It brought tears to my eyes. It felt as if strength and gentleness, struggle and victory, were all speaking directly to my soul.

What amazes me most is that some of his greatest works were written after he lost his hearing. Imagine that—a composer who could no longer hear. The very gift that shaped his calling was taken away. Beethoven could have given up. He could have let discouragement silence him. But the music continued. It grew deeper. Though he could not hear with his ears, he heard with his soul.

Sometimes what we think we need most is taken away. A door closes. A strength weakens. A plan shifts. In those moments, we may feel like giving up. But God is not limited by what we lose. He is not stopped by what seems missing. Scripture says, “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). And at times, we live by faith, not by hearing. Faith keeps your heart tuned to hope, even when circumstances are quiet.

Maybe you feel today that something in your life has become silent. A dream that once stirred your heart. A relationship that gave you strength. Perhaps your confidence itself feels muted. Silence can become the birthplace of something deeper. The most powerful movements in music often begin softly. The most beautiful crescendos grow out of stillness.

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony ends with joy. A man surrounded by silence writes music that bursts with celebration. Your external condition does not have to determine your internal song. You can carry joy when life feels muted. You can create beauty when circumstances feel limited.

God has placed a divine symphony inside you. There is a calling, a purpose, a melody uniquely yours. And no setback, no loss, no limitation can erase what He has written in your heart. When you cannot hear clearly, trust the Master Composer; he is still at work in your life. And when He is finished, your story will unfold in triumph and joy.