When it’s tough to hear the Lord

Once in a while we are “blessed” with the opportunity to have to hear the Lord regarding a directional issue in our lives. Those times when God seems to be about to change something in our assignment (like a job or a ministry) a relationship (like dating or marriage) or a commitment (like a church). How do we process through these times?

Sometimes it’s easy: The Holy Spirit simply speaks. If we are people who regularly immerse ourselves in the Word and in prayer and who maintain a soft and repentant heart before God and others, I believe we are in a great position to hear Him. In that case we’re not going to do something that goes against scripture or that is based on unresolved sin in our lives or that springs from a disconnection from the Vine.

There have been a number of times in my life when the Holy Spirit has clearly said “go”, and in obedience I did it; or said “no” and in obedience, I didn’t. Those times are refreshing because more often it seems that God’s clear voice is a bit muffled, at best, or completely silent at worst. What do we do if we know how to hear the Lord, but we just don’t seem to be hearing Him, and we’ve got a big decision to make?

One of my mentors, Roger Whitlow, says, “let peace be your umpire”. He uses Colossians 3:15 as a guide: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts”. The ruling of an umpire—is it a strike or ball?; is it foul or fair?; did you touch or miss first base?—is the final word. Sometimes in the midst of the confusion of life we don’t have the kind of perspective that our Umpire has. We can and should look for wisdom from other Godly people, make sure distraction is removed from our lives, fast and pray, and line up what God has said in the past with the opportunity of the present. But in the final analysis, is the peace of Christ in our hearts ruling for or against a decision? If we determine that the lack of peace is not because of fear or flesh, we need to trust that red light, regardless of how fantastic the situation we are looking at may be.

Philippians 4:6-7 says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I don’t know about you, but big decisions can sometimes tend to make me a bit anxious. However, if I am living a life of prayer and thanksgiving (and if I am accountable and in unity to others God has put in my life—see verse 2-3), I believe I have the freedom to move ahead if there is peace. After laying everything before the Lord, if there is a clear lack of peace, even if it does not make much sense, then I do not have the freedom to do it. Though in the short run it can be very frustrating to not have understanding about why, we have to trust God’s peace and know that His plan is bigger than we can imagine, and we trust Him alone for our future.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you…Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who truts in Him”. Psalms 32