Does God Shout?
When we open our hearts to God, and position ourselves physically and mentally in a quiet place, God sends us messages of guidance through the Holy Spirit, our Comforter. Sometimes, the messages are clear to us; sometimes, we miss or misunderstand them. For that reason I have always included in daily prayers a request to open my eyes and ears to His daily guidance.
At other times, His communications are so subtle that they are judged by some to be a coincidence. I have even found strong, timely, personal messages directed to me in many devotionals, like a recent PresbyCan Daily Devotional, whose author described her long and trying struggle as caregiver to her ailing husband, who passed away after years of bravely dealing with a debilitating illness. Her message hit home with me, as I had just recently been made aware that my husband had terminal cancer. Her words were helpful and poignant, pointing out certain circumstances that applied directly to me. It was, most certainly, a message of comfort at just the right time.
But there are so many ways that God connects with His children. For example, God has always spoken to me through music in my quiet times.
About ten days before my husband and I received the bad news, I was watching a Gaither Gospel Hour program on television. I don't always catch the show, and indeed, it was almost finished when I tuned in as a group was singing "Jesus Saves". It lasted awhile, as certain different singers offered their rendering of each verse. I found myself singing along to the end, hearing words that I had long since forgotten in my youth.
I awakened the next morning with that song on my heart, loudly and clearly, and it continued throughout the day … and the next day. After three days, I began to wonder when it would end, and whether it was just an "ear worm", so persistent it was.
After the fourth day, I began to ask what God was telling me, for by then, I saw it as a message. And it was not a gentle refrain — it was loud. Just as "ALL CAPS" is declared shouting in literature, this song was uppermost in my mind from dawn to dusk and wanted attention. As time went on, I found myself wondering what God wanted me to know, and feeling that I just didn't "get it". But He was persistent, and the one thing that got through to me was that something was about to happen.
After we received the diagnosis, I certainly understood … in part. I wondered whether He was planning to grant us healing or whether my not-yet-believing husband would indeed be "saved".
Well, the song continues in my heart to this day, and from that, I have all the answers I need. I know that God is with us and that He is in control. I believe that He continues to send the message to emphasize His promise to us when He sent His Son: Jesus saves!
We can be deeply grateful for God's loving messages, be they subtle or strong, always being vigilant and sensitive to His Spirit, so as not to miss any.
Prayer: Dear Father Lord, thank You for Your loving care of us, Your children. Please continue to send us Your messages of hope and love. We want to hear and understand them, so open our hearts, allowing our human frailties to be overridden, to let us view and hear Your guidance clearly, as we know so well that Yours is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Your will be done, dear Father. Amen.
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