Have you ever had your feelings hurt?
Of course you have, we all have. What seems to be our natural response? To get quiet — it’s a key indicator to those around us that something is wrong.
What about when it’s the other way around? The person your with is quiet and you can’t figure out why. Once you press hard enough you figure out that some small comment you made hurt their feelings and they shut down. It’s what we do when we don’t feel valued.
This happened to me and God a few years back.
You see, I was laying in my bed one night reading the Bible and a friend text me. She asked me what I was doing so I told her I was reading my Bible. When she asked where I was reading my exact response was, “1 Chronicles — BORING.” Of course, I was reading the genealogy of Abraham so in my defense it wasn’t THAT exciting.
That next week I had to preach. Now this was early in my preaching days so I was accustomed to relying on God for my message rather than acquired knowledge. That week, as I would ask God what He wanted me to preach on I wasn’t getting anything. Finally it came down to Sunday night and I was desperate.
I sat in my bed and clearly asked God, “Why won’t you tell me what to preach tomorrow?” He replied, “Because you said my word was boring.”
I had hurt God’s feelings by devaluing His word.
I was reminded of my text conversation earlier that week. Immediately I grabbed my phone and apologized to my friend for calling God’s word boring. I also humbled myself before God, repented, and recognized how careless I had been with my words. Right after that prayer, God opened my mind to what I was supposed to preach the next day. It ended up being an on time word for the ministry.
Many of us might be in a season where we don’t feel God is saying much. While everyone’s situation is different, I can’t help but wonder if it’s because we didn’t value the last thing God said. Or maybe we valued it, but we didn’t obey it.
Ignoring the voice of God will silence the voice of God.
Jesus says in Matthew 13:12, “To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
Notice this scripture verse is talking about hearing God’s voice. Jesus is teaching us that when we lean into God’s voice and value it that we will be empowered to hear and understand more. But if we neglect to value His voice even what we do hear and understand will be taken away.
I want to encourage you.
If you happen to be in a season where you feel God is quiet I challenge you to take some time and ask God why. Allow Him to search your heart and mind and see if He reveals anything that may be preventing you from hearing Him. Be ready to respond with repentance and obedience to what He reveals.
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