Crying in the Wilderness
I hear voices. If you know me, that may not surprise you at all. But if you 
give it the slightest bit of thought, you will probably admit you hear them, too.
I am loathe to admit that one of the loudest voices I sometimes hear is an angry, destructive voice. To tell you the truth, I’m not sure whose voice it is; my own voice when I’m upset with me, a family member from childhood, or the devil or one of his minion’s. It doesn’t really matter who it is, what matters is that for many years I listened to it. And because it was loud I thought it was strong and I thought it was right.
- Nobody wants to be with you.
- You’re ugly.
- You can’t do it!
Have you ever noticed that when someone tells you destructive, angry things, it is generally loud and sharp. But when someone says that they love you, they whisper it or speak it softly and gently? We even say “lovingly?” And I have found that most often that is true with God?
John 10:4 says the sheep follow him for they know the voice of their shepherd. The voice of our shepherd is always loving: sometimes that love is in the form of correction or reproof, sometimes nurturing or comfort, and sometimes soothing. But it is never condemning (Romans 8:1).
We can use His Word to turn away those angry “voices” as suggested in Proverbs 15:1: – “A soft answer turns away wrath…”
- Nobody wants to be with you.
—Psalm 46:1 – “God is my refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”
- You’re ugly.
—1 Peter 1:6&7 “6In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials 7so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
- You can’t do it!
—Psalm 37:3 -”I trust in the Lord and do good; so shall I dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly I shall be fed.”
Does that mean I don’t hear angry voices anymore? Occasionally, an angry voice does creep in, but for the most part they can’t get a word in edgewise. Which is just fine with me!
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Karen Sleeth
Karen Sleeth has lived in North Carolina for 26 years. She shares her home with two kitties who cause her to laugh every day. She firmly believes that a merry heart does good like a medicine and some days overdoses.
This is good! I have found that the more familiar I have become with His Word, over the years, the less I pay attention to the other voices. We can identify the real thing much more quickly. It really does have to do with knowing who we are in Christ, and believing what He says about us, doesn’t it?
You are right, Dar! Knowing whose we are makes that huge difference and knowing to my depth who it is that really loves me made the difference. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Excellent!