Four Ways God Speaks to Me

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

Today’s verse comes from Job 33:12b-18, where Job’s friend Elihu speaks to him about Job’s issue. Elihu told Job, that God is greater than any human being. So why are you bring a charge against him? Why say he does not respond to people's complaints? For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds. He whispers in their ears and terrifies them with warnings. He make them turn from doing wrong; he keeps them from pride. He protects them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death.

Being informed helps bring a sense of security. It's natural for me, and others, to want to know what's happening in our lives. Job wanted to know what was going on, why he was suffering. In previous chapters, we sense his frustration. Elihu, his friend claimed to have the answer for Job's biggest question, "Why doesn't God tell me what's happening?" Elihu told Job that God was trying to answer him, but he was not listening. Elihu misjudged God on this point. If God were to answer all of our questions, we would not be adequately tested. What if God has said, "Job, Satan's going to test you and afflict you, but in the end you'll be healed and get everything back"? Job's greatest test was not the pain, but that he did not know why he was suffering. My greatest test may be that I must trust God's goodness even though I don't understand why my life is going a certain way. I must learn to trust in God, who is good, and not in the goodness of life. Elihu's point was that God had spoken again and again. He spoke in dreams and visions, through suffering, and by mediating angels. Job already know that. Elihu was accusing Job of not listening to God, which was not true.

Life just happens and often at a fast pace. I may be too busy to listen for God’s response. But we 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).

The question of the day is, “How do I understand it? How do I tune in so that I can hear God’s voice?"

I’m reminded in my study this morning of four of the channels that God uses:

1. God speaks to me through 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. If I’m not having a daily quiet time and reading the Bible, God is getting a busy signal when he wants to speak to me. I have to keep a constant connection, because God’s will is found in God’s Word.

2. God speaks to me through teachers. There are times when I’m in a service and feel like the pastor was delivering a direct message from God to me? There’s no way a pastor or teacher could figure out exactly what to say to meet every need. But God knows. God uses teaching of pastors to meet the needs of those who are listening.

3. 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 for an impression to be from God, it has to match God’s Word.

4. God speaks to me through my circumstances. If I’m going to live a life of significance, God has to make constant course corrections, and one way he does that is through 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. Hang in there! Following God is not always easy, but it will reap more blessing in my life than I can imagine.

Bottom Line:

God speaks, in different ways, even though we may not understand it.

What this means to me:

God does speak to me, in many ways, ways I may not even think of. I just need to understand who God is and his character. He does communicate.

In summary God speaks, though I might not always recognize it. It natural for me and others to want to be informed. It helps bring a sense of security. However, If God were to answer all my questions, I would not be adequately tested. The greatest test is not knowing why I'm experiencing what's going in and around me. When this happens, I must trust God's goodness even though I don't understand why my life is going a certain way. God speaks, through his word, through teachers, through impressions that match his Word, and through my circumstances. When I start to listen to God through these, he will lead me in ways that I may not always understand. I just need to hang in there and do as he tells me. He will bless in his timing.

This morning Father “I pray that you help me listen to you, provide me with the next steps and allow me to respond in life and to others in a manner consistent with you will and desire. I ask that you help bring clarity to the tasks I have at hand. Help me to organize and put plans into motion as I work with my team members. Help me to communicate with them in a way that makes sense and helps them understand and want to finish a lot of tasks on our plate. Give me the right words to respond my thought process and plans I have to accomplish the work at hand. All this I pray in your Son Jesus’ name, amen!”