The Miracle of Friendship
I have a couple of close friends with whom I talk almost daily. Most operate on the pattern; if I don’t call her, she calls me. We see each other at least once a week. We know each others’ voices. To quote Seinfeld, we’ve reached, “Hi, it’s me!” status. I know when I hear any of their voices that I can talk and be heard by one who loves me and accepts me, warts and all. And they know the same is true when they talk with me. The miracle is, it works. I hear their voices and I know to whom I am speaking. I know their personalities. I know the warm, emotionally-cuddly one and I know the irreverent, opinionated and soft-hearted one. I know when my analytical friend is stressed by the word choices she makes. And, I know when my spiritually focused friend is tired by the change in the pitch of her voice.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28
What about God? Do you know His voice? I don’t know about you, but I’ve never had a Moses at the burning bush moment. I’ve never heard God’s voice echo across the land. But, I have heard Him.
I was whining to Him one day about a mentor. I’ve always wanted an older woman who was willing to help guide me as I have figured out how to be a follower of Christ, how to be a leader, etc. While I have several good friends, I’ve never found that older woman to walk alongside me. I was really sad, mad and frustrated and I was letting Him know just how unfair I thought it was that He not providing what is obviously biblical, reasonable to desire, etc. We had a whole discussion where He asked me questions and I answered Him and He basically restored my heart and brought me peace with the situation. God spoke to me in a way that I knew it was Him and not just me talking to myself.
If God desires a relationship with us, and not just blind assent to rules, then it seems reasonable that He would create us in such a way that we could hear His voice. I think His voice sounds different to each of us. I think it is very rarely an audible sound that our ears pick up. I think He made it that way so that we would spend the time to get to know Him and to learn what His voice sounds like to each one of us. Is the God of the Universe on “Hi, it’s Me!” terms with your Spirit? Have you heard Him speak or seen Him act in a way that you knew that you knew that you knew that it was Him? Tell us about it.
- Written by Alicia Hemphill