“Not again, this never works out for you.” “They don’t want to hear what you have to say.” “You should just give up.” “You’re such a disappointment.” Do any of these phrases, or similar ones, sound familiar? Do you ever wonder if they are the voice of God speaking to you? After all, if I, an imperfect human have higher expectations for myself, wouldn’t a perfect God expect even more?
Discerning the voice of God is one of the great invitations we Christians have to make our walk fruitful. Sadly many of us have viewed God and His voice as similar to a bully.
Here is a passage from Scripture which illustrates how God’s voice often differs from what we might expect.
Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13
God asks questions
It is not the dramatic things like wind, earthquake or fire that was God speaking, but instead the still small voice was God’s. Also God asked Elijah a question. This is something God does often in scripture. God is not the accuser of the brethren – that is something the enemy is (see Revelation 12:10). So if the voice you are hearing is accusative, you can know it is not God. God can and does certainly convict. Conviction is different than accusing. Conviction invites us to repentance. Accusation invites us to shame and condemnation.
I find at times in my life when the voice is loud and demanding, it can overshadow the still small voice of God. But thankfully as I’ve walked with the Lord over the years, I also see him gently whisper his love for me, or his inviting questions.
I’ve heard it said that God never asks questions in order to learn something. Instead He asks questions to invite us to deeper intimacy with Him or to discover what is in our heart.
If you sense the Lord asking you a question today, I encourage you to reject the voice of the bully, and instead enter into the question with Your gentle, loving Father.
