Sometimes when we are waiting for direction or answers to prayers, we can become frustrated by the seeming silence from God. It is challenging to continue to seek him with a right spirit when we feel like we are getting nowhere… waiting and waiting for enlightenment, a green light or for that matter a red light-just any light to illuminate what can sometimes feel like despairing darkness.
In an Insta world we often mistakenly act like we believe our communion with God should result in Insta- communication as we see fit, according to our timelines. When the Almighty God doesn’t bend to our iron wills and unrealistic expectations – we are often weigh laid with worry or indignant: Asking - Where is God? Why isn’t he answering my prayers? Doesn’t he care?
We of little faith!
The God who said and there was, who spoke the very universe into being, is always speaking. Everything that exists has its origins in the Word of God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.”
John 1:1-3
Since he changes not and is the same God yesterday, today and forever more- we can expect and should expect that he will continue to speak over his creation and especially to his most valued creation: mankind. Psalm 8 says,
“3When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place— 4 what is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him? 5You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor”
Psalm 8:3-5
We are his masterpiece, which is why Jesus the Word made flesh, came down to earth, to live and die as a human in order to make atonement for our sins so that we could once more be reconciled to God.
“1 On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. 2But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.” Hebrews 1: 1-2
Restored Communication
Jesus’ life, death and resurrection has resulted in restored fellowship and communion with God. So that once again like Adam, we can walk and talk in the cool of the day with God- our spirits connecting with his Spirit. Amazing, isn’t it? Direct access to God- anytime, anyplace, having the ability to both speak to and hear from him.
While God primarily speaks to us through the written word (the Holy Bible) which is ‘alive and active’ and capable of judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart’. he also now speaks to us through the Holy Spirit!
“… when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come”
John 16:13
Thankfully, in those times when we need clear guidance from God we can turn to his written Word which is useful for, “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…” and then we can also wait before him listening and paying attention to how the Holy Spirit will reveal to us what the Father is saying in the present, for the specific situation or concern we are seeking him about- a Rhema word: a particular insight into a portion of Scripture relating to our lives and circumstances.
Becoming Familiar
If we are patient, alert and expectant, we will find that God speaks through nature, through people- like the prophets of old, through dreams and visions, through signs and wonders, through events. Ultimately, we must return to the written Word: Logos, to test these revelations. But as we abide more and more in his Word and presence, his voice will become increasingly familiar. We will soon realise that he is continually speaking if only we will have eyes and ears to hear him.
Timali Ebanks is a follower of Jesus, cherished wife and mother of a beloved motley crew. When she is not enthusiastically expounding on the joys of delving into literature and engaging students in copious amounts of reading and analysis, she enjoys bouts of writing and adventures of all sorts.
