When God Speaks

Isn’t it funny how often we ignore our needs?

We work and work with no rest until we drive our bodies into the ground. We attack overwhelmingly large challenges on our own thinking we can handle them until we’ve buried ourselves so deep, we can no longer see a way out. We keep putting off phone calls and visits to attend to other things until we feel isolated and lonely and have missed out on sharing moments with our favorite people. We keep running from one thing to the next, not even stopping for a quick drink of water, until we realize our heads hurt and bodies ache from dehydration. Sometimes the simplest things we need, we ignore until they can no longer be ignored.

Why do we do this?

Do you wonder what that looks like from God’s perspective? He gives us good things and good people and potentially wonderful moments to savor, but we keep running around in a state of oblivion. We pack our days with tasks. We fill our peace with noise. All the while, God speaks somewhere underneath all of that but we barely hear His voice.

I suppose we think this is admirable. And honestly, hard work is. But I think it crosses a line when it becomes a detriment to our hearts, bodies and relationships. Even worse, when it causes a disconnect between us and the One who longs to share our days.

God really does speak. He is not a silent God. If you listen close enough, He will tell you how to take care of you and take care of the ones you love. There is nothing more admirable than a life lived in close communion with God. He is the One who puts real purpose and meaning into the moments we string together into a life.

A life lived without God is no life at all. If you listen closely, He is probably leading you to rest. Rest your thoughts. Rest your heart. Even rest your body.

This doesn’t mean you’ll become lazy so do not fear. It means that the time you spend working will be better spent. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all of these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33) God knows how to maximize your work and maximize your rest. You can lean on Him, listen and live well. With such a beautiful offer, it seems we’d be foolish not to take it.

Father God, teach us how to truly hear Your precious voice and live as You call us to live. Help us to no longer shut ourselves out from the very goodness that pours forth from Your extravagant love. We thank You for loving us like you do and fulfilling all our needs. Amen.

Friends, the more we turn to our God, the more our choices matter. It’s a beautiful side effect of seeking first His kingdom. I pray we all can do this in the days to come. I know we’ll be glad we did.

See you tomorrow. In the meantime, sleep peacefully.