I Thought I Heard God’s Voice

I heard God’s voice. Loud and clear.

I had been praying unceasingly for a breakthrough in a difficult situation, yet I had such an unsettled feeling about how it was going to turn out – until that day. God replaced my tension with His peace. I heard God voice the reply I had been waiting for: “I’ll come through.”

As time moved on, I continued to tell myself, “There is still time for God to come through; I know I heard Him correctly.” However, time kept moving, and then time ran out. The breakthrough I had fervently prayed for did not come to pass.

Then doubt crept in. Did God really say what I thought He said? Was it my imagination? Was it wishful thinking? Perhaps Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known,” was meant for someone else. Maybe it was meant for EVERYBODY else. Except for me.

Then the questions started. “God, did You forget what You told me? Did You forget about this situation? Did You forget about me?”

I got frustrated that God did not do what I expected Him to do. I considered giving Him the silent treatment, at least temporarily. Then I had guilt about being frustrated with God and also about avoiding Him.  

While I tried to sort through those confused feelings, I came to the realization that I DID hear God’s promise correctly. However, I filled in the blanks as to how He was going to accomplish it. When He did not do it the way I supposed He was going to, I doubted He was going to do it at all. 

I had happily accepted His assurance, but I had assumed His approach.

If we compiled a list of adjectives to describe God, the words predictable and conventional would not make the cut. Our unpredictable God frequently employs unconventional methods. 

When God grants us His unmatched “calm down, I will come through,” peace in relation to a promise He has made, our jobs are to 1. accept the peace, and 2. allow Him to choose how and when He will bring the promise to completion. What a blessing to know He is a promise-keeping God who always comes through.

Prayer: Lord, help me hear Your voice and trust Your ways. Help me feel Your Presence as I wait in confidence and expectation. Amen.

My sheep recognize my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 (TLB)


Comments

16 responses to “I Thought I Heard God’s Voice”

  1. Amen!

    1. Thanks for reading, Teri – good to hear from you! 😀

  2. Yes! This is such a powerful truth— God IS faithful, and He DOES come through, but in His way, and in His timing. I’ve doubted the voice of God before, for the same reasons mentioned above. It’s important that we not insert the how and when into His plan. But oh so hard to do, especially when we are hurting.
    Thank you for sharing!

    1. Rachel, thanks so much for your comment! And so true that when we’re hurting it’s harder to trust God’s way. Blessings!

  3. Liz Giertz Avatar
    Liz Giertz

    Processing something similar myself this week. Thanks for this encouraging word!

    1. Liz, thank you! May God bless you and help you to continue to trust His way in your situation!

  4. Not too long ago I asked some people when do they hear God most. Is it when their hearts at at peace and they’ve spent some quiet moments with God? Personally I seem to hear God most when my heart is troubled. In times of peace, I just have this inner knowing when He’s working in my heart

    1. Hi, Sesame – thank you for commenting! Yes, what you said makes sense…when our hearts are troubled, we often seek His voice and guidance more!

  5. Believers should hear the voice of the Spirit, the still, small, voice in the quiet time of prayer, the closer we are the more we hear, we need that personal relationship, rest in His love and let Him work His mysterious ways.

    1. Lovely comment, and so true! Thank you so much for reading!

  6. Wow! Yes! I am relating to this right now.

    1. Thank you for reading and commenting — prayers for you in your situation! Blessings.

  7. Very encouraging as I’m in the middle of asking, and waiting, and waiting some more. Thankful for a God who loves me and knows what I need better than I do!

    1. Thank you, Joanna! I totally agree: He sure does love us and know what we need better than we do! Blessings!

  8. Heather Hart Avatar
    Heather Hart

    This is so true! Our God is trustworthy and true – He is unchanging, but He is not predictable, and His ways are not our ways.

    1. Thanks for commenting, Heather! What a blessing that God is so very trustworthy!!

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