Has God ever REALLY spoken to you?
Okay, I am going to admit something that everyone I ever went to church might be surprised by. I can not think of a time, no matter how much I asked Him to, where God has ever actually spoken to me. Sure, He guides me and directs my path, and if I look back at my life I can see how He has been faithful. But, I can’t recall Him ever actually speaking to me. Not audibly, not in dreams, not through angels, etc. And I certainly have never seen Him. Why is it that the God of the Universe, who created the world and all that is in it, would choose to make himself invisible?
He hasn’t always been invisible- in fact in the Old Testament He was a burning bush and a pillar of fire. He talked/appeared to Moses, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. In the New Testament He was present in His son Jesus, and was a blinding light and voice that spoke to Saul (Paul). But now, it seems, God chooses to stay invisible. Maybe not, or maybe just to me? I don’t know. I still see Him, every day, in nature and in all that surrounds me. But I never physically see or hear God. I never have. I wonder if I ever will in this life.
So, the question is this? Have any of you actually ever heard or seen God?
God has spoken to me through His word many times. I would still be living in Oregon if He didn’t. It was certainly NOT my choice at that time to move back to WI. I believe the only person to have seen the actual person of God (outside of Jesus Christ) was Moses and he only saw the hinder parts of Him because we cannot stand in the presence of Him in this body, we would probably vaporize or something. ANd as far as seeing Him today,well that’s not going to happen probably either because signs are for the jew and we are in the age of Grace. God wants us to believe by Faith alone. That’s my understanding of the whole deal there.
Rebecca
February 15, 2011 at 1:07 pm
Remember God also manifested himself through a still, small voice to Elijah. I love that story. That being said, God did speak to me–just once–and audibly–at least I heard it. It was right after I handled a very difficult issue at a youth camp I directed. No telling details but it involved police, a near suicide attempt and a lot of crying people. After I got everyone back to their cabins, in a very dramatic fashion, I asked God “Why are you putting me through this.” I heard a reply. In fact, I felt pushed to my knees (maybe I was just feeling faint). Then the voice said, “Why not you? Now get up and do what you’ve been prepared to do.” Pretty harsh, huh? I can’t guarantee you it was God but I heard it just like I would hear someone talking to me. No one else was around to confirm this experience and that’s okay. It affected me but didn’t really change the course of my life. I went ahead and did the right things because the voice was right; 20+ years of teaching and working with kids left me well suited to handle the rest of the evening. Some people might make try to make an entire faith system out of an experience like that. For me, it was an experience I took at face value. I heard the voice of God (or maybe just my own spirit confirming God’s direction)
Keith
February 17, 2011 at 12:55 am