There is so much noise all around us. And I'm not just talking about audible noise. Anything and everything that distracts us from what really matters becomes a flurry of babels that draw us away from the sounds that really matter most.
And I don't think there will ever be a sound as valuable as that of God's voice. God speaks to us to guide us and affirm us. It's there to speak truth when everything around us are lies that only appear to be truth.
But how can we cancel out all noise and focus on the voice of God when everything is so fast paced and distraction laden?
In 1 Kings 19:11-12, Elijah encounters God in an exceptional way: "And he said, 'Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper."
Sometimes we find God in the same way the prophet Elijah found Him — a small voice through the fire and winds. But through the noise we know it's God's voice, but we just can't make enough out of it.
What brings to us clarity is not a hyper focus that He developed through the years. Sometimes we over-spiritualise hearing God or turn it into a craft that only "experts" are good at. But the truth of the matter is that God wants to be heard and He wants to speak to us and through us. With that, He has made hearing Him simple.
James 4:8 tells us, "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."
God draws near to those who confidently approach Him in faith to hear what He has to say. And the only reason why God's voice is made clear to us is because of what He has done for us, not what we have done to reach Him.
Behind our faith is the biggest effort that our Lord has made to made Himself known to us. We see that through a man who came down as a carpenter to spread love and ultimately display it on a cross 2,000 years ago. The only way to hear and experience God is through Him — Jesus Christ.
Hearing the voice of God is made possible in Jesus' name and no way else. As He once said, He is the only way, the only truth and the only life (John 14:6), and the only way to the Father is through Him.
