Sometimes, it feels as if God just isn’t listening. I know I have been at that place in my life, and I’m sure you have too. A few weeks ago, I talked about what it means to listen for His voice and follow His lead in the midst of this crazy life, and today’s post follows this same concept.
I was in bed a few nights ago when a loud crack of thunder startled me awake. A bright flash of lightning followed soon after, and it took a moment for my heart to settle back into a normal pattern. When I finally found a semblance of quiet rest after the rude awakening, my thoughts drifted into prayer. I considered how I so often cried out to Him in my time of need, almost expecting that He would respond in some swift and monumental way. There are times I wish He would just send down a memo from Heaven, spelling out exactly what He wants me to do in a given situation.
But sometimes, when God speaks, it isn’t so blatantly obvious. His ways are all powerful, but oftentimes, His power isn’t found in the incredible display of lightning and the booming thunder outside my bedroom window. It made me think of the text from 1 Kings 19:11-12: “The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper” (NIV). Sometimes, we have to listen for the still, small voice, for this is often how He speaks to His people.
Recently, I have been working on a summer project in which I am studying the psalms in order to create a Bible Study curriculum for my ladies’ Bible Study coming up this fall. As I was studying the Scriptures recently, I came across the text in Psalm 46:10-11: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (NIV).
According to Robert L. Alden’s book Psalms: Songs of Devotion, the Hebrew word for be still is the same as cease in Psalm 37: 8: “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil” (KJV). I think the writer makes an interesting point here. Sometimes, it takes being completely still before Him to be resigned to His will and path for one’s life. Only then can a person begin to let go of everything and cease from what is holding them back from a close relationship with their creator.
I was listening to a discussion on the radio not too long ago, and a woman called in to the show to relay her experience in waiting on God and listening for His voice. She talked about God’s gentle whisper, and how this exemplifies a best-friend relationship. She pointed out that best friends often tell secrets, their faces close together as they relay something deep and personal to each other. She compared this to the relationship that God longs to have with His people; He wants us to be so close to Him that we are able to hear the whispers He relays to the heart.
It is in deep relationship with one’s creator that a person can truly let go of everything that puts Him at a distance. Recently, I finished writing a song that talks about this very concept. The lyrics speak of the many things that keep us from truly letting Him into our lives, and I’d like to share the message of the song with you as I close. Blessings, friends!
Letting Go
Words and Music by Cassandra Lokker
© 2012 by Cassandra Lokker
Verse 1:
All my failures, doubts and fears,
Nights of anguish, bitter tears—
You have taken; my hope is unshaken.
Stress and worry, empty dreams,
All that glitters, all that gleams—
I’ve forsaken; Your love now awaken!
Chorus:
I’m letting go; it’s all I can do.
I leave everything, lay it down before You.
For it’s here the healing begins
From a heart that’s broken within;
I’m letting go to let You in.
Verse 2:
All my burdens, guilt, and pain,
All I sought as needless gain—
You have taken; my hope is unshaken.
Worldly pleasures, fortune, fame,
Prideful deeds that bring You shame—
I’ve forsaken; Your love now awaken!
cassiecontemplates 