Conceiving that no one else could possibly share my experiences of hearing a voice-over during a television advertisement and feeling the urgency to identify who it belongs to, imagine the utter delight in having a You, Too? moment when reading Chad Veach’s Faith Forward Future. Chad seems to be more disciplined than me because when I hear That Voice, I climb out of my cozy bed, locate my phone or computer, and start investigating until the mystery voice is identified. It will drive me crazy to lay there and wonder because most voices aren’t as distinctive as say Morgan Freeman or James Earl Jones. “Luke, I am your father!”
Veach shares his own That Voice! experience when viewing an animated film, “Instantly, I thought, I know that voice. Who is that voice? I refused to Google it right then and there, but I probably spent a good third of the movie straining to solve the puzzle. I know it. Who is that?!…I was yelling and cheering inside my head…It may sound strange, but hearing God’s voice is a lot like that. There’s something about the sound that clicks inside of you. You know where it’s coming from. You recognize it, because it’s God.”
What resonates even more deeply with me than needing to place a celebrity’s face with a voice, is Veach’s perspective on hearing from God and his emphasis on looking to Scripture for examples of how this has occurred in the past. Sharing the story of Jonah, Veach offers, “You might be wondering, When he comes, how will I know that it’s God who’s really speaking to me? How will I know that it’s him when he brings the word about my plan? Many have a difficult time discerning the difference between their own voices and God’s voice. But Jesus said, ‘My sheep recognize my voice’ (John 10:27 THE MESSAGE). If we’re following him, we will be able to recognize when it’s God asking us to do something.”
If you’ve been following this blog for any period of time, you are probably very aware of a common theme in my life: the struggle to discern hearing God’s voice, especially over the internal monologue usually playing in my head. But there exists a deep desire within to walk so closely with my Savior so there is no doubt who is speaking when I hear That Voice!
John Eldredge’s Walking With God is teaching me the valuable lesson of learning how to listen for That Voice! Encouraging readers to “ask simple questions” while adjusting to a posture of surrender, Eldredge shares, “I find that to hear the voice of God, we must be in a posture of Quiet Surrender. Starting with small questions helps us learn to do that…To hear that gentle whisper, we have to settle down. Shut out all the drama. Quiet our hearts…Pause and listen. Repeat the question…We are drawn to God in search of guidance, but we come away with a deeper holiness because we are learning surrender. Sometimes I will even say as I’m listening, Lord-I will accept whatever it is you want to say to me. It helps me bring my soul to a posture of quiet surrender.”
Personally, discovering That Voice means Taking It Slow rather than rushing forward. As a doer, a person who likes to take action, this is a difficult challenge for me; however, I am learning that when the greatest teacher of all is attempting to provide you with guidance, it is wise to not only embrace Listening Eyes, but to accept any form He chooses to speak. “Quite often we can sense God’s direction on a matter before we hear actual words. You may have heard someone use the expression ‘I had a check in my spirit.’ It refers to an internal pause, a hesitancy, a sudden reluctance to proceed,” shares Eldredge.
Oh, how I long to live an Unhurried and Listening Life, because for me, this is also the path that leads to a flourishing life. For apart from the One who created me, I will most certainly flounder and fail, but when I choose to follow Him, He can redeem my flounders and failures for His glory, but I must be in tune to recognize That Voice!
Is there a time you have experienced That Voice so clearly that you had no issues identifying its source? My hope is that you will share that experience in the comments below.
References:
Eldredge, J. (2008). Walking with God: Talk to Him. Hear from Him. Really. Thomas Nelson.
Flourishing @ Life 
As a heavily involved college student, I find myself sometimes lacking rest and clarity. There is constantly so much happening, among relationships, school, and work. Yet, I want to be as involved as I can, especially since I somewhat isolated myself in middle and high school. College is such a sweet opportunity for constant community. However, just because I may be surrounded by valuable and fun relationships and adventures, it is still vitally important that I pause to hear God’s gentle voice in the midst of the chaos. Recently, I have been craving clarity about certain situations, yet I hesitate to pause to listen. This post reminded me of the importance of rest, listening, and a heart for seeking wisdom.
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I have heard God speaking to me once in my life and that was the day that I accepted Him as my lord and savior. I had heard a voice before I was saved but didn’t truly stop and listen to it because I’m not one that likes to wait very long for an answer. However, when I heard that voice again I knew that it was God pulling and tugging on my heart and it took me realizing that I had to just stop and listen to Him, and that I couldn’t rush His work because I’m not in control of His work. Therefore, once I stopped and listened to His voice I was able to put my life in his hands knowing that He would provide everything that I will ever need in my life.
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We’ve all been there before. Especially in the lives of young adults, it often feels as though we are caught up in a tempest where we cannot see, hear, or feel anything except for what is directly in front of us. For a believer, it is a compromising position to be in as the core of our existence is the reliance of the guidance that the Holy Spirit brings us. At the height of the storms in our lives, it is as stated above imperative that we put our pride aside and place ourselves in a position of surrender. The serenity that comes as a result is enigmatic and defies the common flow of human logic, but nevertheless that serenity is real and it is present. Eventually believers will come to the understanding that God’s power is beyond the dimensions of what is fathomable in this world and as such no matter what we think the circumstances may allow, God’s voice alone has the power to bend everything to his good will.
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