Why Won't God Speak To Me?
By Pastor JimEver feel like God has forgotten about you? Or worse, He just doesn’t want to talk to you right now. Like some sort of Divine Silent Treatment, a mum God unwilling to address you until you ___________ (fill in the blank: do this, stop doing that, read your bible for 43 days straight, and for Me sake you better stop watching that Game of Thrones show…).Does God speak? Or do we need to get another copy of Jesus Calling and hear him vicariously through people He actually likes?Is the universe still around? Is Earth still spinning?
"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power." —Hebrews 1:1-3
Colossians 1:17 tells us that Jesus “holds all things together.” Hebrews 1 tells us how He does it: He tells it to. Which means stars are firing their star stuff because Jesus is speaking to them. Tides are tiding because Jesus tells them to. (Or does He tell the moon to moon the ocean tide and then it tides?) God is speaking to creation at this very moment. In fact, your cells, your heartbeat, your hair follicles (which He knows the exact number of) all hear the voice of God and do what He says.
But does He speak to me?Are you not more valuable than the sparrow? What about the lily that's here today and gone next week?
"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"—Matthew 6:26
If God speaks to creation, and you are more valuable than creation, will not God also speak to you?1. Have you opened your bible lately? Have you read in James 4:6 that God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble? Have you read in Psalm 34:18 that God is near the brokenhearted? Might these be the answers to some of your questions?What if you were to ask God to give you more grace and instead of speaking to you audibly or writing His answer on a wall He revealed to you where you were proud or caused you to be humble (or humiliated) since those are the people who experience God’s grace?Or what if you were to ask God to be closer to you and His answer was to break your heart over something because He is near the brokenhearted?2. Have you walked outside? In the evening perhaps? Have you seen the Texas sky? His words lifting up the hue of the orange and the hue of the lemon with a splash of grapefruit painting his message of the day for you: “Enjoy this and rest, worship. I'm good and good to you.”
If God speaks to creation, and you are more valuable than creation, will not God also speak to you?
3. Has the Spirit whispered to you for the 4766 time, “You’re His son” (Rom 8:16)? Has He not spoken to you the truth of Scripture? Or reminded you of what Jesus has said? Or guided you in all truth (John 16:12-15)?
The problem is not that God doesn’t speak but that we don’t listen. When you only view God as a life coach or your own personal errand boy you expect Him to stay on topic. You’re like the annoying friend who only talks about yourself and what you want, and what you’re struggling with, and what you wish would happen. Sometimes, since, you know, He is God, He doesn’t stay on topic.
Me: God, should we do XYZ to forward the mission of the Gospel in Fort Worth?God: You were impatient with Harper last night, why do you think?
Me: God, I know I shouldn’t be so easily discouraged but can you change ______________?God: My steadfast love endures forever (1 Ch 16:34, 41; 2 Ch 5:13, 7:3; Ezra 3:11; Ps 100:5; Ps 106:1; Ps 107:1; Ps 117:2; Ps 118:1-4, 29; Ps 136)
He doesn’t stay on topic.
You are a beloved child; He is a loving God. He will, and does speak to you. It just might not be in the way you wanted."This world, shaped by His words, can never be tamed by mine. But there is joy to be had in trying and falling short.”—N.D. Wilson