This is a guest post by Mike Edwards.
Mike asks questions in hopes one may reconsider any beliefs about God that may discourage one from pursuing God and spirituality. Mike blogs at: What God May Really Be Like – Misbeliefs About God. Visit his website to learn more about him and his books.
Note from Jeremy Myers: I am publishing several guest posts this summer as I take some time off to rest. I am also preparing for something HUGE this fall. Stay tuned! If you would like to write a Guest Post for RedeemingGod, begin by reading the Guest Blogger Guidelines.
It can be very confusing how one is supposed to relate to an invisible God.
Frustrations can lead to simply giving up having a meaningful relationship with one’s Creator. I understand that some people claim that God speaks to them directly, but this is not the experience of the majority of those who seek a relationship with God. Many may prefer that God would speak more directly but this doesn’t always leads to the results we may think.
The Bible suggests that God spoke directly with the first couple in the garden, but this experience seemed to wane as history progressed. And while Moses says he spoke to God face to face (Exod 33:11, when God sets out to communicate to the Israelites, He did so through the mediation of Moses, and by inscribing the commandments on stone with the finger of God (Exod 31:18). We don’t know exactly what types of communication these were but most would agree that God was no longer communicating in the same way He communicated with Adam and Eve.
Since God doesn’t speak audibly or write in stones to us, how can we know that we hear the voice of God?
Many of us talk out loud to God or we pray silently and then thoughts come into mind. Are such thoughts from the mind of God?
Well, there is some bad news and some good news.
We can’t know for certain that our thoughts are inspired by God, but the good news is God’s love is supportive not controlling. God gives us freedom to make decisions in an open future. Any number of decisions can be made in our situation. God does not predetermine our future. This indicates that while we want to hear more directly from God, God indicates His responsiveness to us by not predetermining everything we think, say, and do. He responds to us as we respond to Him. This means that while we may not be able to hear the voice of God, we can see His response to us through how life unfolds as we pray and communicate with Him.
God always listens
One benefit to God’s approach to us is that He always listens. Most of us want a good listener in a relationship. Very few of us want to be told what to do, or we would always take the advice of others rather than frequently having a comeback as to why one’s suggestion won’t work. Opinions are not always helpful or welcomed. Besides, one’s interference can prevent growth and self-satisfaction resulting from making independent choices. We want to be heard by another soul to talk out situations and share burdens that are heavy to carry alone.
If can be comforting to know God is always available to listen. We may be embarrassed to share our latest relapse with a friend. God doesn’t heap more guilt on us. God has endless mercy and forgiveness so we don’t give up no matter how demoralized we may feel. God is always available in times of loneliness. Friends can’t always be available in the middle of the night. We may feel that we are overburdening our friends by constantly going to them. God’s shoulders surely are much bigger.
But, I want to hear what God thinks!
We all want to know what God thinks. But the truth is that we already mostly know what God thinks. If you think about it, we already know most of what God thinks about most issues. Therefore, talking with God is mostly for emotional support.
And as for the issues where we want God’s input on our life decisions, God withholds His input because He wants us to make our own decisions.
It is helpful to think about moral versus immoral actions. When it comes to most moral issues, God has already pretty clearly told us in Scripture what the best course of action is.
But many decisions aren’t moral – what job to take, whether to move to a different city, etc. God doesn’t predetermine our future so we have to wonder the “right” decision. God doesn’t know if your partner is suddenly not going to honor their commitment when challenges arise. Wise decisions are simply taking into account past experiences, current circumstances, future aspirations, and going for it. God’s love is both freeing and uncontrolling. He doesn’t tell us what to do in such cases, because in some sense, He is just as excited as we are to find out what we will do and what will come of it.
Some relational decisions seem to have a touch of morality that we aren’t sure what God would do. God’s love is still freeing. God isn’t hiding. Should we forgive a mom and sibling for participating in favoritism? Neither admits to any favoritism but such actions are clear to most outsiders. The Bible can be used to suggest always forgive or forgiveness is only possible when one acknowledges wrongdoing. Jesus once said to rebuke others but if they repent forgive them (Luke 17:4). One may forgive to best deal with personal bitterness. Others may not forgive to avoid further bitterness since the guilty denies wrongdoing.
In relationships there isn’t always a “right” thing to do. It is more complicated for leaders of nations for they are making decisions for millions, thus governments best have checks and balances.
Still, a relationship with God isn’t about being told what to do. It is considering how a loving God may think on a matter and feeling free to make a decision based on your present circumstances. If you are insisting God guarantee a certain outcome, then you are asking God to be a controller. A loving God would speak audibly if necessary; otherwise, assume you have God’s blessings if it isn’t immoral or violating the rights of others. Don’t live in fear; live in the knowledge of God’s love. And don’t demand certainty, for this is something even God cannot guarantee in a free world.
I know some of what I have written is controversial. So what do you think? How can we hear the voice of God? How can we know what to do with certain decisions in life? How does a loving God help guide and direct us through life? Share your input and ideas in the comment section below.
This is very true “This means that while we may not be able to hear the voice of God, we can see His response to us through how life unfolds as we pray and communicate with Him.”
Raising a family, as a parent, it was easy for raising kids before they started to become independent and then one’s strategy I discovered must change to a more mentoring, teaching, and more guiding, trying to understand their thought and injecting truth and direction when there is an opportunity to do that. I see God doing that in people’s lives as well. When we are ready to listen he enlightens us, which seems then to help us see things clearer or more straight forward. It is refreshing when that happens and rewarding when you can look back and see why this happened the way it did. Making decisions or knowing what to do when you come to a fork in the road is that thing where faith comes in and trusting in an invisible God. Many times I am uncomfortable where my path leads but looking back it seems to be a necessary evil … ha ha.. sort of speak.
A fellow teacher / professor explained my path, my life, is like a football field, I start at my home field and my path to eternity is at the other end zone / Heaven. the football field is my path where I have full reign to run around in but my path should work towards the other goal post ahead of me. The sidelines are the places, where if not careful, enough I end up in Heaven prematurely. Some people have a straight line to the other end zone, others the line is very difficult to follow. LOL. The analogy of that possibly is How we listen to Gods voice/Instruction/by the influence of the Spirit of God as you describe here, which determines how straight the line is but then, maybe that is how God intended it to be. Anyways it is my long winded thoughts on your article which Jeremy I really appreciated. Helped reassure me I am on a similar path of thought from this article. 😉
Vaughn and Emilio: Thanks for your thoughts. A loving God surely will communicate audibly if necessary; otherwise, we can be confident in our decisions when our desires are the same as God’s – to make the world a better place. We know God’s voice for sure when we hear: I love you, I forgive you; I won’t abandon you; let’s see what happens; I want what you want deep down. Mike
It has always seemed to me that God has His way of communicating and usually tailored to the one to whom He is speaking. Lets face it, if God has something to say, it will be heard.
He spoke quite directly to Gideon, Abraham and the Prophets. Then, we have Balaam, who required a more unique approach. There was also that “still small voice”, in the cave. Of course, Paul was stopped in his tracks and – if you will – saw the Light.
I have known people to whom God revealed/spoken things, yet many others who only claimed such.
Can God speak to us? Of course! Does He speak to people? I believe so. Does He speak to us in the same way? No.
I would concur John
Many of us (including myself for a long time) are looking that “dot” when pursuing God’s rather than loving Him and walking with Him.
Good article! Are you espousing a form of “open theology?”
Yes Dwight. I for one can’t wrap my head around the idea that a known future and genuine freedom are logically compatible. An undetermined future doesn’t make God less powerful if an unknown future can’t be known. God’s uncontrolling nature doesn’t mean God isn’t active in making for a better world. God is constantly seeking to inspire people to shun evil and do good. As you commented loving and walking with God puts us square on the dot. An open future removes one of the greatest negatives about God not communicating clearly. I have written more about Open Theology on my website if interested.
Great , and right on the mark. A long time ago I abandoned the whole project of seeking God’s will in this situation or that. Instead, I have learned to trust that if I am walking in the Spirit and am informed by the written Word of God, then I am free to make whatever decision I deem best. Certainly I’m not in danger of making the “wrong” decision and forever screwing up God’s plan for my life.
Well said Michael. Thanks. I couldn’t agree more. We can live and act in confidence and not worry about screwing up God’s plan.
Maybe God just talks to his children with a still small voice. And it can be very direct and very clear. Kinda like talking to someone on the phone??
At least that’s been my experience
I’ve timed it and on average the answer to a prayer is somewhere between 2 and 3 minutes ?
I would be curious to know how fast the speed of thought is??
To me tuning into the HS is like tuning into a radio station you can be off station and get static or you learn to recognize the voice of the good shepherd and get insight. Scripture is fairly clear about what the role of the HS is. One of them is to communicate the things of God to us. He is our counsellor, mentor, guide and teacher. You cant do any of this if you don’t have a voice and are silent. Food for thought
My understanding of how God speaks, without doing any research, is first through the word (Bible).
Then there is a still small voice as mentioned in the Bible. I believe one needs to be very committed, seeking and surrendered to hear this voice. Then God speaks through his preachers, pastors etc. Through other Christians also. There is a verse that I will paraphrase ,” his voice is like the sound of many waters”.
I thought it may be helpful to respond in general to all the great comments thus far. I especially love blogs like Jeremy’s because they encourage us to think about God as we work out our own convictions. Some have shared slightly different ideas in reaction to this Post which is a good thing as we think through our relationship with God. I like to say: I may be right, you may be right, or we may both be wrong. If your communication with God is working for you, don’t change a thing. There is nothing greater in life than such a connection with our Creator. I probably had in mind as writing those who question if they are hearing God’s voice, maybe even feeling confused or discouraged. One of the biggest complaints about God and perhaps why many don’t engage is because they think: why bother since God doesn’t communicate clearly.
Let me give a corny example as I try to be as brief as possible. In my ongoing conversations with God I wondered if I should respond as I am now: Would it be encouraging or discouraging? From my perspective God’s voice was clear: “Mike, go for it if you think best.” In all our relationships we have to discern whether we might say something. Sometimes people just need some slack and silence is best. Risks in relationships are inescapable. But, we don’t have to wonder what God is telling us to do. God doesn’t have to communicate about decisions that are clearly moral in nature. With other decisions I am encouraged that God doesn’t leave me hanging, wondering, or anxious. Like a loving parent, who doesn’t seek to control, I hear God telling me: “Let’s do this Mike. I will support and encourage you the whole way since we both desire to love others like we want to be loved for a better world.
I think this is an important question to tackle openly.
When I talk to people about it, they point to how Jesus could hear from God, the Father, directly and, therefore, since we are to be like him, we can do the same thing.
My response has been this: we are trying to do the things Jesus does in his deity, but sometimes at the expense of what he did in his humanity: dying, suffering, reaching the lost.
And, forgetting that he is able to do certain things because he was sinless.
People who do have sin can be imperfect listeners.
Some amazing things have been done by being obedient to God in his Word, which we know is infallible.
Some disastrous and dangerous things, however, have been done by listening in the wind and believing visions from man’s own mind to come from God.
Thanks Tim. As you say God obviously spoke differently to Jesus and many of those in the OT. Surely, a loving God would speak to us in the exact same ways if necessary. I love your implication: there is so much that God has already said through the example of Jesus. If only I could live up to that, but if I stay busy with that I don’t have to wait around for God to speak to me. God has spoken a ton already. Let’s all figure out how to communicate how God speaks so more people might engage and be encouraged and not confused by their Creator.
Perhaps we could think about this;
If God “tells us ” something that adds to scripture then that is a false message as it countermands the scripture which says nothing is to be added.
If God “tells us” something that contradicts scripture then we can reject that as a false message which makes God untrue.
If God ” tells us ” something that is the same as scripture then why would He need to, it has already been said.
At the same time, I believe that there can be an awareness of the Holy Spirit’s prompting us into action. For me that is a mystery that I can’t explain.
I have really enjoyed reading these, so I will add my 2c worth:
I am reminded of an old joke, which I will paraphrase.
The wife says, “Honey, you never say ‘I love you’ to me!”
The husband responds with “I told you 25 years ago that I love you and if that changes I will let you know.”
God seems to have spoken a certain way THROUGH people called prophets in the OT. In the NT, He has come personally, as one of us, and His communication is Himself, the Word Jesus. Jesus IS the Voice of God.
When Jesus goes back to the Father, He sends His Spirit who “will lead you into all truth.”
There is communion, relationship, comfort. This, I believe, is the “still small voice” in our hearts.
So, to put “how does God speak to us” into a nice easy compact Formula (as so many love to do)
1) God tells certain people He is going to come visit
2) Jesus arrives, and God is right there talking in our faces but many only hear noise so they kill Him
3) He leaves, but then His Spirit is here and any and all who realize the Truth of this can now hear Him talking through a special spiritual Inner Ear Implant that He instals.
I “hear” Him; not as an audio-book in my ear-buds, but as an Awareness of Meaning somewhere between Mind and Emotion. It’s an on-going “I love you” that continually points me in the right direction with Purpose.
But I have to actively listen; quiet the noise of the world, and my own inner noise, and just Listen………
Cathey thank you for your post what you have described has also been my experience and is supported by scripture. The Apostles certainly had this view in their walk with Christ…. and Acts records what they did about it.
I agree with you on this one. We sometimes think we have to get the go-ahead from God for each little decision but instead he’s given us a brain and intuition which help us make the right decisions. Although, I do believe gut feel or intuition is often God’s way of leading us.
I found your article to be intriguing and thought provoking. How does God speak to people? Are we not talking about how God communicates? I believe this is only a mystery because so many have not considered the complexity of the forms and applications of said communication. A small still voice, a manifest presence, a physical miracle, written revelation or intuitive thought. All are God interaction and communication with us. Yet what we want to hear is that clear and concise definitive voice saying turn here. My friends, God is not GPS for individual life, but a guide to adventure and Holistic Glory of the “body of Christ”. We function within that concept freely, not as a machine that requires every part to function only within it given design and limitations. If that where the case then the world would be irreparably broken. In contrast what we have is a living creation by a living creator that guides the parts and allows the whole to become as it chooses and the result is “the world we live in”. This is his Kingdom and we need input from God to guide us in making and conforming it to his will, as much as possible. So to build upon this we need to communicate. The lines of communication are opened by inquiry (prayer). God will call, but we must answer, I truly believe he would prefer we initiate the communication. So how do we receive the answer? That depends on the inquiry.
However, no communication is possible if first no-one is listening or looking for a response. You will never know what is in a letter or e-mail if you don’t open it. Our minds and spirits are mail boxes, nothing comes to the inbox if it is blocked/locked. Also, with every open form of communication come undesirable messages and even harmful ones. We can filter some out very easily, but many are going to make it through. So we apply filters to life and thought. So as we filter these responses we need criteria to weigh them against. That is where God’s word in scripture comes in. The more versed you are the better your filter. Through his word and actions you have developed a litmus test as to God’s nature. If it is not within the parameters you can identify then it is suspect and must be put to more test. In 1 John we are told to test the Spirits and we can only do this if we know what the standards are. Life listening for God is not so much different than tuning in to a radio station, Jesus said, My sheep know my voice”. We know we have found what we want to hear when we hear the familiar sound of our favorite station. I think it is intrinsically hard to hear God’s voice if you do not know what your listening for! So How does God speak to people…..Through his written word, through a intuitive thought, through a friend, through and event and yes even sometimes as a clear concise voice within our heart and mind. But how would you recognize him if you have never learned his voice. Think about this: Have you ever answered your phone and a foreign voice says, “hello Mr. Smith, how are you today?” and instantly hung up because you know its a tel-marketer? If you do not know Jesus’ voice then isn’t it possible his greeting would sound foreign and intrusive. Is then possible you have hung up on God before you knew who was calling?