I'm currently reading a collection of books by Joyce Meyer on depression, stress, fear, insecurity-- all of those negative emotions that seem to tackle us and prevent us from having positive, uplifting, and rewarding lives. A passage came up in a section titled "The Promptings of the Spirit" that spoke to me. The verses are 1 Kings 19:11-12 (NAB):
Back to 1 Kings-- while the Lord was speaking to Elijah many disastrous events took place: strong winds, mountains being torn apart rock-by-rock, earthquakes, and fire. Yet none of these were signs by which to tell the Lord was there. His presence only came (His message to Elijah) when He spoke in a small voice.
I think now of how many times I felt I was completely alone in life--- that Jesus didn't care that I was suffering through such events as abusive relationships, a death of a loved one, or uncertainty of what will happen next. But I now realize it was because I was EXPECTING from God to show me in some BIG way that He was there and would solve all my problems for me.
I'm suffering less and less with anxiety and depression because I now know to look for God in the "small voices". I now look for God in my friends and family, in my surroundings, during my prayer times, and I don't expect Him to come down from heaven and share with me what His plan is exactly. And I think a lot of others need to realize this too: God IS speaking to you, you're just expecting something different from what He's actually doing.
Listen up non-believers--- God blessed with us a wonderful set of books that make up our Scriptures. You want more from Him? Don't expect that He's going to come down from heaven and personally answer each of your faith questions. DO, instead, expect that He will send people into your life who will share Jesus with you. And most of the time this will be done without you even realizing it is God prompting them to help you, to show you He is truly there, and that He loves you more than you could ever realize.
An example: I have a student this year who spent the first few weeks driving me crazy and I really thought he preferred to mess around in class instead of want to learn. I recently talked to his homeroom teacher about what has been going on and she commented that "Yes, you really hate that kid, don't you?". Wow that was a huge shock to me: that the way I was reacting towards this student and what I was saying to his teacher made it seem that I *hated* him. God used my fellow faculty member to speak to me (the small voice idea again!) that I wasn't helping this student as I should have. I continued to speak to his teacher about his personality and decided to make a very conscious effort to show him that I did want only the best for him and was there to help him.
I am very thankful to say that last time I had class with him, he came up to me and showed me that he had completed his warm up questions and that he really understood what was going on. Knowing that he had tried so hard to complete the warm up and stay focused, I made sure I called on him so he could share his answer with the class and then receive more praise from me for a job well done. Now it's a pleasure to see him in class every day and I'm glad that God used that moment to open my eyes and heart to a potentially bad situation.
God wants to be there for us--- He wants to impart His wisdom to make our lives happy, blissful, and full of blessings and love. "But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God" (1 Corinthians 1:30) If we're expecting a fireworks display to get our attention, guess what it's not happening. God does not work like that and we need to realize this.
One last point... do you know who does use BIG EVENTS to get our attention? Satan. Why? Because he knows that is what we're expecting from God. Because of our sinfulness, disease and decay have crept into Creation, so much so that the Bible even talks about Creation crying out from all the destruction.
When we see such events as earthquakes, disease, deaths surround us, non-believers seem to want to quickly ask us believers "Where is your God now? Why would someone so loving as your God let this happen?" Trust me, the Lord mourns along side us when such events take place--- it is because sin continues to run rampant in this world, thanks to our need to do what we want and Satan tempting us.
Be wary of the messages you're getting in life. Read the Scriptures and pray-- be careful to listen to what is truly a message from God and run away from any messages that are from Satan. God does not work the way humanity thinks, keep this in your heart. God uses those around us to speak, but only if they are of God, true believers. Satan will try to lead you astray and he has no issue using painful events and negative people to have that goal achieved.
Then the LORD said, "Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by." A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks 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. After the earthquake there was fire--but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
I think a lot of people except God to do things in BIG ways to get our attention. I can't even count how many times that non-believers have demanded that God provide proof that He is real to them. But God does not work that way usually. Yes there are stories of God coming down on people, especially His own people of Israel for their sins. He can destroy WHOLE cities for their sinfulness or all of humanity except those who are faithful to Him (like the event with Noah and his family members). And while Jesus did provide examples of what to look for, God still uses the simplest of ways to get our attention.
Back to 1 Kings-- while the Lord was speaking to Elijah many disastrous events took place: strong winds, mountains being torn apart rock-by-rock, earthquakes, and fire. Yet none of these were signs by which to tell the Lord was there. His presence only came (His message to Elijah) when He spoke in a small voice.
I think now of how many times I felt I was completely alone in life--- that Jesus didn't care that I was suffering through such events as abusive relationships, a death of a loved one, or uncertainty of what will happen next. But I now realize it was because I was EXPECTING from God to show me in some BIG way that He was there and would solve all my problems for me.
I'm suffering less and less with anxiety and depression because I now know to look for God in the "small voices". I now look for God in my friends and family, in my surroundings, during my prayer times, and I don't expect Him to come down from heaven and share with me what His plan is exactly. And I think a lot of others need to realize this too: God IS speaking to you, you're just expecting something different from what He's actually doing.
Listen up non-believers--- God blessed with us a wonderful set of books that make up our Scriptures. You want more from Him? Don't expect that He's going to come down from heaven and personally answer each of your faith questions. DO, instead, expect that He will send people into your life who will share Jesus with you. And most of the time this will be done without you even realizing it is God prompting them to help you, to show you He is truly there, and that He loves you more than you could ever realize.
An example: I have a student this year who spent the first few weeks driving me crazy and I really thought he preferred to mess around in class instead of want to learn. I recently talked to his homeroom teacher about what has been going on and she commented that "Yes, you really hate that kid, don't you?". Wow that was a huge shock to me: that the way I was reacting towards this student and what I was saying to his teacher made it seem that I *hated* him. God used my fellow faculty member to speak to me (the small voice idea again!) that I wasn't helping this student as I should have. I continued to speak to his teacher about his personality and decided to make a very conscious effort to show him that I did want only the best for him and was there to help him.
I am very thankful to say that last time I had class with him, he came up to me and showed me that he had completed his warm up questions and that he really understood what was going on. Knowing that he had tried so hard to complete the warm up and stay focused, I made sure I called on him so he could share his answer with the class and then receive more praise from me for a job well done. Now it's a pleasure to see him in class every day and I'm glad that God used that moment to open my eyes and heart to a potentially bad situation.
God wants to be there for us--- He wants to impart His wisdom to make our lives happy, blissful, and full of blessings and love. "But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God" (1 Corinthians 1:30) If we're expecting a fireworks display to get our attention, guess what it's not happening. God does not work like that and we need to realize this.
One last point... do you know who does use BIG EVENTS to get our attention? Satan. Why? Because he knows that is what we're expecting from God. Because of our sinfulness, disease and decay have crept into Creation, so much so that the Bible even talks about Creation crying out from all the destruction.
Isaiah 24:3-6 The earth shall be utterly laid waste and utterly despoiled; for the LORD has spoken this word. The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers; the heavens languish together with the earth. The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth dwindled, and few people are left.
When we see such events as earthquakes, disease, deaths surround us, non-believers seem to want to quickly ask us believers "Where is your God now? Why would someone so loving as your God let this happen?" Trust me, the Lord mourns along side us when such events take place--- it is because sin continues to run rampant in this world, thanks to our need to do what we want and Satan tempting us.
Be wary of the messages you're getting in life. Read the Scriptures and pray-- be careful to listen to what is truly a message from God and run away from any messages that are from Satan. God does not work the way humanity thinks, keep this in your heart. God uses those around us to speak, but only if they are of God, true believers. Satan will try to lead you astray and he has no issue using painful events and negative people to have that goal achieved.
