I’m sure you are all familiar with the television show The Voice, where four celebrity music artists listen to the voices of contestants singing without the benefit of seeing their faces. With their backs turned, they make a judgment on whether they have talent as a singer. If they deem the singer has promise, they “turn their seat around,” at which time they see the contestant. On many occasions, once they see the singer face to face, their preconceived idea of the singer’s looks, age, or even manner, which was solely based on their voice, is completely opposite of what they sounded like.
I wonder if we can have preconceived ideas about God, whom we have not physically seen, based on His “voice.”
The Bible describes God’s voice as the sound of thunder, the roar of many waters, or the sound of harpists playing their harps. These sounds certainly match the mightiness of God and His power over all things. It's a voice that grabs our attention and snaps us into obedience.
Yet, we see in 1 Kings 19:11-13 that God also speaks in a still, small voice:
“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”
The point of God speaking to Elijah in a still, small voice was to show that God’s workings do not always have to be accompanied by dramatic revelation or manifestations because His power is also present in quietness and stillness: “not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6).
God’s voice is also “heard” through Scripture whether through the prophets, the disciples, or the Son of God Himself.
I’d like to share the various ways the Lord has “spoken” to me in His still, small voice in hopes that it will spark in you a remembrance of ways the Lord has actually “spoken” to you or is now “speaking” to you and the benefits of listening to that gentle whisper no matter what form it comes in recognizing its value and purpose.
Years ago, I coined the phrase “urge to push” whenever I would sense the Holy Spirit prompting me to do something, usually related to sharing the gospel. It was something I naturally was not comfortable with, not because I am ashamed of the Gospel, but because I am an introvert by nature. Much like giving birth, you know the pain is coming, but your body also knows it has a job to do, and without any effort on your own part, the urge to push takes over and nothing can stop it. Your body is compelling you to push whether you want to or not. The baby is coming!
One day, I was at home and there was a knock on the door. When I opened the door, I was greeted by a college-aged, pleasant-looking woman who was selling aerial views of people’s homes in the neighborhood. It was so interesting to see our house from the air. I actually ended up purchasing the photo of our home because it was a nice keepsake to have. We then said our goodbyes.
I went back to what I was doing before she had come, sorting through my homeschool books for the upcoming year. I noticed that the sky was getting darker and then I heard a rumble of thunder, and then another closer one. I was concerned about the woman who had just left my house and walked back into the living room where I saw her walking up our driveway. I immediately invited her back in until the storm passed. She came into the kitchen and saw what I was doing and asked me about homeschooling. Then it came, the urge to push, and I might add, with a clap of thunder! I felt the Holy Spirit compelling me to share my testimony and what led me to homeschool. At that moment, I obeyed the still, small voice while it thundered outside...
I’d like to believe I will see that woman in heaven one day and the seeds that were planted when I “pushed” out the gospel reaped a harvest of salvation because I chose to listen to the still, small voice during a thunderstorm, even though I was uncomfortable.
When we have our “urge to push” moments, His still small voice will give us the words to speak and the courage to do so.
A couple of years ago, I opened up lab results for a lung CT that was done because of a finding on a previous chest x-ray following RSV. No one was expecting there to be an issue, so I wasn’t at all concerned. It was 7:30 p.m., and there I read the words, “nodules of varying sizes throughout my lungs with recommended repeat CT scan in three months.” The room started spinning. Even my husband who doesn’t get shaken by anything looked very concerned.
At this point, I didn’t even have a pulmonologist. My husband works with a research pulmonologist who recommended I be seen right away by another pulmonologist. The night before my appointment, I did not sleep. I was afraid of what I would officially be told the next morning. I was crying out to God for mercy. Suddenly, disjointed words were coming to me. I was having difficulty putting them together, but I fought hard to hear His still, small voice. Slowly, the words formed into sentences… “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:11).
God’s still, small voice came and ministered to me in my sleepless bed, piercing through my turmoil like a beacon of hope, those precious words filling me with peace. I was then able to fall asleep.
The next morning, I was given very good news that the “nodules” were more than likely related to the residua from the RSV. My latest CT this past January showed that the nodules were gone and I no longer needed to have follow-up CT scans. Indeed, I again praised my God and my salvation. He gave me hope that sleepless night, lifted my downcast soul, and blessed me with healing.
Sometimes, we have to “fight hard” in the midst of the tumultuous noise in our minds to hear God’s still, small voice, but then we will hear that gentle whisper speaking comfort over our hearts and minds.
When my husband felt called to become a pastor, he wanted to go to seminary. Our pastor at the time recommended his alma mater, which was about an hour away from our home. It was a five-year part-time program. My husband could continue to work while going to school. Our biggest obstacle was the finances, and we just weren’t sure we could make it work. We both prayed for wisdom on how to proceed. I remember sharing my heart with a retired pastor’s wife who attended our church about our concerns moving forward. She very plainly stated, “Do not worry about money to pay for seminary, God will provide.” We continued to pray and the pastor’s wife’s words kept coming back to me.
My husband took a step in faith and applied to seminary, seeing if the Lord would close the door that way. He did not! My husband was accepted.
Next came the bill for the first semester. Again, the words of the pastor’s wife kept coming back to me, “Do not worry, God will provide.” And He did! We received anonymous donations that covered the exact cost of the first semester. And so it continued! We were receiving money from all sorts of areas, not just anonymous donations, but through other means outside of the church, and every quarter, the exact amount we needed for the seminary bill was covered! I am here to testify that my husband and I did not pay anything for the five years of seminary, God provided all of it!
I believe God’s still, small voice came through the retired pastor’s wife who shared wisdom I assume the still, small voice prompted her to share.
God uses fellow believers as a vehicle for His still, small voice, not only as a means to bless others but as an opportunity to obey their own “urges to push” from the Holy Spirit.
Anyone who knows me knows how much I promote the importance of staying in the Word of God. When we commit God’s Word to our hearts, the Holy Spirit applies it to our lives through His still small voice. It’s up to us to listen and to obey.
“Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:21
I pray the testimonies I’ve shared here of how the Lord has “spoken” to me encourage you that God is still speaking. Take time to listen… You will be abundantly blessed.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/BrianAJackson
Karen Del Tatto is a blogger, author, women's ministry leader, pastor's wife, mom, and grandmother who is passionate about the Word of God. Her blog Growing Together in Grace and Knowledge and her books Choosing to Trust God: Breaking the Habit of Worry, A 30-Day Devotional and Choosing to Trust God Companion Journal reveal her heart for providing Biblical insights to encourage women to grow in and through their struggles while equipping them to overcome. Karen and her husband live in Rhode Island and enjoy walks in the woods, owling, and spending time with their grandchildren.