Being still long enough to hear God’s whisper

The past few weeks have been hard and I’ve sometimes doubted whether I’m on the correct path. I’ve struggled emotionally, physically, and to some extent, spiritually as the writing and publishing process for my latest project, Faith in the Fog, progressed. I wondered if I “heard Him” incorrectly as emotions grew intense and sleep evaded me. Sometimes, I cried out in anger and frustration as delays, misunderstandings, and technical difficulties plagued my efforts. However, each time I cried out, a little whisper reassured me, “all is well.”

Maybe Not a Thousand “Little Things” But…

While there may not be “a thousand little things,” there have been many whispers that tell me I am not alone in this process and I’ve learned to smile, listen, recognize them and thank God for each one. I’ve realized over the years that God doesn’t always shout or give me a “mountain top” experience to tell me He’s still here by my side and during this season He’s not shouting. He’s whispering through a comment to a post or a video, a devotional that answers a prayer, an unexpected gift from a friend, a song that heals my hurting heart, or feedback from my daughter that helps me fine tune what I’m doing. All these little things and so many more tell me God still has my back.

Be Still and Know

One of my favorite scriptures is “Be still and know that I am God” ( Psalm 46:10) because I’ve found being still before God is the best way to hear His voice. For me being still means turning off my phone, closing my eyes and just sitting in silence, no prayer, no music, just quiet. Even if I only do this for 5 minutes, it allows me to experience God in a way I can’t express. No, there isn’t an audible whisper, but more like clarity of thought and peace that calms my soul. In those moments, I see “all the little things” that God has done and breathe a sigh of relief.

Practicing What I Teach

I wish I could say I practice “being still” often, but that is not the case which helps explain my recent distress. More often, it takes a while for me to realize, “oh, maybe I need to be still and listen instead of trying to do this on my own.”  That’s what I’ve returned to this week as I practice this week’s theme, “Listening for God’s Whisper,” and  I’ve experienced renewed energy, reduced anxiety, and increased excitement to move forward.

Take Time to Listen

I hope you, too, are taking time to pause, be still, and listen for God’s whisper this week. He’s gentle, loving, and wants the best for us even when we think we know better. In the quiet, He stills my soul, calms my mind, and helps me see Him more clearly.

Challenge for this Week

My challenge to you is to take 5 minutes each day, turn off your phone, your television, and any other electronic device and just sit in His presence with no music, no words, just silence. Then, I’d love to hear what happened during and after your time of being still.

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