What does it mean to hear God’s voice and be guided by Him?
A question I have been wrestling with lately…
I went on a long walk the other day, asking God what he was teaching me this season and the words “patience and longsuffering” came to mind.
Patience, I know. But what’s longsuffering? Without even knowing the definition of the word, it sounds awful… to suffer for a long time?? Ekkk. I had heard of the word before, but had to look up what it meant. So here it is:
long-suf’-er-ing (‘erekh ‘appayim; makrothumia):
Longsuffering literally means “long of nose” (or “breathing”). And as anger is shown through breathing through your nose, it figuratively means “slow to anger.” It also can mean “long of mind or soul,” describing how God bears long with us, is kind and patient even when we constantly wrong Him.
(Source: Bible Study Tools)
The Greek words for longsuffering often have been translated to patience in English, but it’s really cool to see the layers of meaning behind the word! (yup dork alert hehe)
Here’s some instances when longsuffering, translated as patience, is used:
Be PATIENT, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being PATIENT about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. // James 5:7
May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and PATIENCE with JOY. // Colossians 1:11
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and PATIENCE inherit the promises. // Hebrews 6:11–12
Amen, amen!
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No fear.
Even though I felt like I had already conquered fear in my life, the struggle ensues. Fear of failure. Fear of inadequacy. Fear of not meeting others’ expectations / wishes. Fear is crippling. It is debilitating.
Every day I need to remind myself there is no fear in Jesus. There is no fear in Jesus. No fear! But instead, He gives us power, love and self-discipline. His grace is sufficient, power made perfect in weakness. My struggle is not in vain.
Your struggle is not in vain. His grace is sufficient.
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
Each season has its own set of challenges, but what do you hold onto in the midst of them?
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Waiting on the Lord is harddddd. SO hard. What do you do when you’re not where you wished/dreamed/hoped to be? What do you do when your future is as foggy as glasses on a rainy day? When you feel helpless like a cockroach stuck on its back with little legs flailing in the air?
Came across a couple of quotes I had saved from two years ago, which gave me much hope:
“Waiting requires patience — a willingness to calmly accept what we have or have not, where we are or where we wish we were, whomever we live or work with. To want what we don’t have is impatience, for one thing, and it is to mistrust God. Is He not in complete control of all circumstances, events, and conditions? If some are beyond His control, He is not God.”
“Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy.
Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepares to wait trustfully and quietly on Him was has ALL things safely in His hands.
‘Peace I leave with you; I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.’ // John 14:27
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So, I never really answered the question presented in the title, or did I?
What does it mean to hear God’s voice and be guided by Him?
It’s simple really, and boils down to one word:
SEEK.
In this challenging season of transition, these verses have been of much comfort and solace to me.
God has plans for you.
Call on Him.
Come and pray to Him.
He will listen.
Seek Him and you will find Him.
Just seek with all your ❤.
He will speak to you.
He knows exactly what you need.
