There are moments in life when God speaks to us in ways we don't expect. Sometimes He uses His Word. Sometimes He uses prayer. Sometimes He uses circumstances. Then there are times when He speaks through the quiet moments of life that cause us to stop and examine ourselves.
This week, I found myself reflecting on my own family.
Like many parents, Tammy and I receive phone calls from our children when life presents another major decision. They call about employment opportunities, financial decisions, relationships, moving to another city, or making a large purchase. Those conversations are precious to us because they tell us our children still value our counsel.
There is nothing wrong with seeking wisdom from your parents. In fact, Scripture teaches us to honor our father and mother. There is safety in wise counsel. There is value in learning from those who have walked before us.
But as I prayed, the Lord began to impress something upon my heart.
What if our children have become more comfortable seeking our voice than seeking His?
That question challenged me.
It wasn't an indictment against my children. It was a reminder to me as a father.
Have I taught them to depend upon my answers, or have I taught them to pursue God's direction?
Because there is coming a day when Tammy and I won't be here. Our children won't be able to call us for every decision. They'll have to stand on their own faith, seek the Lord for themselves, and trust Him with life's uncertainties.
Then I realized this isn't just a message for my family.
It's a message for the Church.
How many times have we looked for someone to tell us what to do before we've taken the time to ask God? How many opinions have we gathered while spending very little time in prayer? We call family. We call friends. We search the internet. We ask coworkers. We ask everyone except the One who promised to guide us.
The problem isn't that we lack information.
The problem is that we've neglected intimacy with Christ.
That's what brings us to our text.
When we arrive in 1 Samuel chapter 3, we find a young man named Samuel serving faithfully in the house of the Lord. He wasn't rebellious. He wasn't careless. He was exactly where he was supposed to be.
Yet the Bible tells us something remarkable. Samuel heard God calling his name, but he didn't recognize His voice.
Instead of responding to God, he ran to Eli.
Three different times God called.
Three different times Samuel assumed someone else was speaking.
Isn't that exactly what many believers do today?
God is calling, but we mistake His voice for something else.
God is leading, but we're listening to everyone except Him.
The beautiful truth of this passage is that God never stopped calling Samuel.
He called again.
And He called again.
And He called again.
That tells me something about the character of our God.
He is patient with us while we grow.
He doesn't abandon us because we fail to recognize Him the first time. He continues to draw us, continues to teach us, and continues to invite us into a deeper relationship with Him.
Eventually, Eli understood what was happening.
I love what he did next.
He didn't offer to hear from God on Samuel's behalf.
He didn't tell Samuel to let him handle it.
Instead, he taught Samuel how to answer God for himself.
That is one of the greatest responsibilities of every parent, every pastor, and every spiritual mentor.
Our assignment is not to become someone's permanent answer.
Our assignment is to point people to Christ until they learn to hear Him for themselves.
There is a difference between giving advice and making disciples.
Advice solves today's problem.
Discipleship prepares someone for the rest of their life.
That's the goal.
Not raising children who always need another answer from Mom and Dad.
Not building church members who cannot make a decision without first calling the pastor.
Our desire should be to develop men and women who know how to get alone with God, open His Word, pray, wait patiently, and recognize the voice of the Shepherd.
Jesus said in John 10:27,
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
Notice He didn't say they hear the loudest voice.
He didn't say they hear the most popular voice.
He didn't say they hear the most persuasive voice.
He said they hear His voice.
That only happens through relationship.
You don't recognize someone's voice because you've read about them.
You recognize their voice because you've spent time with them.
The same is true with Christ.
The more time we spend in His presence, the more familiar His voice becomes.
The more we pray, the more we learn His heart.
The more we read His Word, the easier it becomes to discern His direction.
When life becomes uncertain, our confidence isn't found in having all the answers.
Our confidence is found in knowing the One who does.
Perhaps today you've been looking everywhere for direction.
You've been asking everyone what they think.
You've collected opinions from people who don't have to live with your decisions.
Maybe today the Lord is inviting you to do what Samuel finally learned to do.
Be still.
Quiet your heart.
Stop running to everyone else.
And simply say,
"Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth."
I believe that's where spiritual maturity begins.
Not when we know more.
Not when we have everything figured out.
But when Christ becomes our first conversation instead of our last resort.
May that be true for our homes.
May it be true for our families.
May it be true for this church.
And may we become people who know the voice of our Shepherd so well that when He speaks, we are ready to follow wherever He leads.
Whose Voice Are You Listening To?
