One thing we all crave is to hear the voice of God. Whether we want to hear God speaking to us because we want to know that we matter to Him or because we are seeking direction in our lives we all want to listen to God speaking to us. As those contemplating the call to go to the nations, we wonder if that is God’s will for us. Others do know that God has called them to be message bearers, but they are asking where to go. Still other message bearers are already on the field, and they want to know that when language learning is difficult and culture mistakes have been made that God still knows right where they are, He hasn’t forgotten, we aren’t off track, and He still has a plan for us in that place.
When we think of receiving direction from the Lord, most people think this is just a feeling, sense or impression that we should do something in particular. But few of us think we ever hear God speaking to us in specific instances. For some reason, most people think that if they haven’t heard the audible voice of God then they haven’t heard God speak. Sometimes God speaks to non-Christians to turn their hearts toward Him or reveal something important, but as children of God we are His sheep and He promises that we will know and can hear His voice. (John 10:1-5) God speaking to us isn’t only just a general sense of knowing, but also a specific instance of hearing specific words. What does His voice sound like? How can I learn to hear His voice? If the Lord is speaking to me, then why don’t I hear Him?