October 21, 2022

I Samuel 3: 9 (NIV)

“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.

God speaks in our world. We just have to learn to listen for him amidst the ordinary.*

By the time Samuel spoke these words, God had already called to him four times. The first three times, he thought it was his mentor, Eli, calling him. After the third time that Samuel had run to where Eli was sleeping, Eli realized that it must be the Lord speaking to the boy so he advised him to say these words.

In Samuel’s defense: he was young and he “did not yet know the Lord.” (verse 7) In our defense: I don’t think we have one. If we don’t hear God calling, it’s because we’re not listening. We specifically ask him to reveal himself to us then we rush off without waiting for his answer. How rude is that?

Sometimes, though, God answers and we ignore him. I can testify to that. For years, I have had the idea in the back of my mind to write. I was busy working and raising my kids so I mostly only thought about writing. I got to do some writing as part of my job – business letters, procedure manuals, grant requests, press releases – but nothing that brought satisfaction. After my job ended and after I had determined that I was not going to be returning to the daily grind of a full-time job, I constantly asked God to reveal to me what he wanted me to be doing for him. Write. Write. Write. The answer came up time after time, but I wasn’t listening. I can’t tell you what finally opened the ears of my heart but here I am. I still have questions about the direction I should go. Publish or not? Continue blogging? Try something other than daily devotionals? Look for ways to reach a larger audience or be content that I am reaching the audience that needs to be reached? I believe that I am a better listener now and God is telling me this: Do what you’re doing. I’ll let you know when you need to do something else.

Have you asked God to reveal his will but he hasn’t? Perhaps you aren’t listening. Next time you speak to him, give him a chance to speak back. Try Samuel’s approach: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” Give him some time. In the meantime, do what you’re doing. He’ll let you know when you need to do something else.

Faithful servants have a way of knowing answered prayer when they see it, and a way of not giving up when they don’t.*