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A few days ago my little girl Kailey (whose 5 years old) asked me a startling question from the back of the car as I was driving. She asked, “Why does God speak like this?” and then she went silent.
“Speak like what?” I responded.
“Speak like this…” silent again.
“What do you mean Kailey? Daddy doesn’t understand.” (I was expecting her to use some deeper voice impression of God instead of, well, nothing.)
Frustrated she said, “Daddy God doesn’t talk to me. He is quiet. Why doesn’t he talk to me with words?”
Hmmm.
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I wish I had a snappy theological comeback that a five year old could wrap her mind around but I didn’t. As a matter of fact I’ve been thinking about her question ever since. Yes, I know that God speaks to us through creation (Psalm 19) and through His Word (Psalm 119.) But, Kailey has a point, why doesn’t he use words?
Maybe He operates differently with you but I’ve been saved since June 23rd, 1974 and I’ve never heard the audible voice of God once. When I flip through the stations on my television set and see big haired preachers go on about the conversation they had with God over lattes last night I get a little frustrated. What am I missing? Why does God speak to me like this?____________(silence)
As I have marinated on this question over the last few days I think that one of the reasons why God doesn’t often use words is that it would remove the faith factor. Because I don’t have a “Greg, now do this….” voice in my head or in my ear I have to rely, search, pray, seek, watch and wait until He confirms in my inner spirit that this or that is the direction I should go.
Maybe it’s this internal confirmation (which some call the “still, small voice”) that is the way that God “speaks” to us without words. He uses circumstances, situations and confirmations in the deepest place of our soul to direct us.
Somebody once said, “90% of knowing God’s will is knowing God’s Word” and I agree. If you want to hear the voice of God then go and read your Bible. Every word is straight from the throneroom of God.
Last night as I tucked Kailey into bed I told her, “Kailey, God does speak today. He is speaking all the time and He speaks most of all through the Bible. Although we may not be able to hear His voice out loud, He is speaking.”
In the words of Francis Schaeffer, “He is there and He is not silent.”
The real question is not is God is speaking but are we listening?
