I normally post here on Tuesday’s, but since I’m taking next week off I want to throw some thoughts out there to you. I want to hear from you. I want to converse with you, as in conversation I find clarity to my questions.
Here I was. In Guatemala for the third time standing in Central Park looking around at the beauty and remembering why I loved this place. The colors. The people. The busyness. It all captivates my soul and speaks quietly to my heart, “this is holy.”
My quiet heaven is soon interrupted with the words of another team member, “This afternoon is yours. Spend time asking God where He wants you to go and serve, listen, and then go do.” I felt a small panic rise within.
What if I didn’t hear from God?
My partner and I set out praying and asking God to speak. Nothing came. My mind could not settle on anything but the rush of the city, the differences of culture that I had left back at home, and the fear of what if I couldn’t hear from God. All the sudden I felt like I was suffocating.
The fear was paralyzing. Silently I mused do I ever really hear from God?
This agonizing and intimidating question rolling through my soul really made it hard to silence my mind. The fear had got the best of me. I walked silently in tears questioning my own journey, do I really hear from God? Am I following Him or some made up selfish thought that crosses my mind? Where are you, God?
Our walk finally led us to a quaint art museum tucked away in beautiful building. The owner spoke English! Silent prayers went up, Thank you, JESUS!
A reminder of how I hear.
After beautiful and engaging conversation about a piece of art he had just finished, I felt God nudging me to speak to him on a deeper lever. It was scary as I really didn’t know him. Then just as I was arguing with myself about being bold and speaking, he asked if we could stay and have a cup of coffee.
It was the perfect moment. The Guatemalan rainy season was pouring heavily as we sat in the courtyard outside his shop and talked about life over a hot cup of coffee. The stirrings I felt that needed to be said came out naturally in conversation. It was a moment of clarity. A moment of conviction for both he and I. God was speaking and it was beautiful.
Leaving the museum, I had a perk in each step as we sloshed through puddle after puddle back to Central Park. I did hear from God! Why did I question and freak?
Maybe I couldn’t hear God on demand and through the chaos in my soul, but I did hear him. I heard in a way that is natural for me — through people and circumstance.
God is so wild! The fact that he even communicates with his fallen children baffles me. While I usually sense His sweet, sometimes convicting, whispers through His word, it was beautiful to be reminded that He speaks in other ways too.
QUESTION: How do you most often hear from God? When was the last time He nudged you to do something?