Extraordinary Experiences Are Great But Listen For God's Voice in the Ordinary
Do you long for God to show up in extraordinary ways in your life? Part of this is natural, but don't forget what God is doing in the ordinary.
It was a chilly morning in North Pole, Alaska, in the summer of 2011. I was sitting on my parents’ front porch, wrapped in a blanket and hugging a cup of warm coffee, talking to God.
I had recently met Ezra online but never in person. I knew from the direction of our conversations that we were both taking the relationship seriously, and I was scared of committing to someone I only knew through Facebook, long-distance conversations, and other people’s descriptions.
What if I can’t trust him? I asked God.
It was then I heard God’s voice the clearest I ever have in my life. In a whisper in my heart, He said, “You may not be able to trust him, but you can trust me, and this is what I have for you.”
It startled me to hear God so clearly and yet so quietly and deeply in my soul. And for the record, after almost thirteen years of marriage, I’ve learned Ezra is the most trustworthy person I know. A man of his word, a man of integrity, and one who constantly seeks the heart of God. But I didn’t know it then, except for trusting the voice of God in my life.
God Speaks Most Often Through the Ordinary
While the way God spoke to me in this example was extraordinary, I've found that most of the time, He speaks through the ordinary. I have found his will through searching His Word, praying for open or closed doors, and talking to other Christians who walk with God daily.
Yes, God has the ability to speak directly to our hearts. He’s even spoken through a donkey (Numbers 22:28). And in 1 Kings 19:11-13, we read the story of a dramatic encounter Elijah has with God.
“11 Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.” At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
This was truly a supernatural experience, and it's one that most of us will never witness.
