Ways God Speaks

In review of Job 33:14 it says, “God does speak — sometimes one way and sometimes another — even though people may not understand it”

Bottom Line:

God speaks in different ways, we just don’t notice or recognize it.

What this means to me:

God does speak. Sometimes it will be in one way and others times it will be in a different manner. I just need to learn to tune in and recognize his voice.

Today’s verse comes from the last part of Job chapter 33, where Job’s friend, Elihu, presents his case against Job. Job was saying that God does not respond to people’s complaints. Elihu tells Job that God speaks again and again, though people do not always recognize it.

I think that I get too busy to listen for God’s response. But what I’m learning is that I have to take the time to tune in and listen, because God is speaking. Job 33:14 says, “God does speak — sometimes one way and sometimes another — even though people may not understand it” (NCV).

So the question becomes, “How do I understand it? How do I tune in so that I can hear God’s voice?”

Here are four of the channels that I am learning that God uses to speak to me:

God speaks to me through His Word, the Bible. It’s my guidebook for life. It shows me the right step to take. That is why I need to read God’s Word every day. When I miss out on not having a daily quiet time and reading the Bible, God is effectively getting a busy signal from me when he is trying speak to me. I need to keep a constant connection, because I will find God’s will in His Word.

God speaks to me through teachers. There are times when it feels as if the pastor was communicating a direct message from God to me? There’s no way a teacher could figure out exactly what to say to meet every need. But God knows.

God speaks to me through impressions. There are two extremes to this. One extreme is the rationalist who believes no impression can be from God; it all has to be logical. At the other extreme is the mystical belief that every impression is from God. I need to get in the middle and realize that every impression has to match God’s Word.

Lastly, God speaks to me through my circumstances. If I’m going to live a life of significance, God’s got to make constant course corrections, and one of the things he uses to do that is the circumstances that come into my life. When I start to listen to God through circumstances, impressions, teachers, or the Bible, sometimes he’s going to lead me in ways that I don’t understand. I just need to hang in there! Following God will not always easy, but it will reap more blessing than I can imagine.