So many times in my life I have lived by, “I have to see it to believe it” yet there are many times in my life that I believe God calls me to “hear it to believe it.” In fact, I believe that this is what God has always called me – us to. It is a lesson I am learning and embracing more in these times. It is a lesson we must all learn as this particular call will never change. It is part of living in obedience to God. Our life of faith is built on hearing God’s Word before anything comes to pass in our lives. Scripture does tell us, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
We hear God first and then our faith grows. We hear God, then obey and then God has evidence of our trust in him and can do amazing things in our lives. God spoke to Abraham about his future and asked Abraham to pick up from where he was and give up everything he knew, to follow God, where He would lead him. Abraham did not know anything about where he was going but he heard God’s voice. Abraham is the example of hearing and believing.
We don’t get to see what God is doing first before we follow.
This kind of faith is simple but difficult. In Genesis 12:1, the story of Abraham and God’s call is to leave and go to what will be shown. He had to obey what was heard in order to receive what was promised. In John 10:27, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Again, we see here that we hear and follow. We don’t get to see what God is doing first before we follow. Jeremiah 33 says, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” When we call to God, he answers not by showing us, but by telling us what we do not know, but need to know. He won’t show if we don’t call. We won’t see if we don’t listen.
Isaiah 30:21 says to us, “and your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” This is a picture of us walking forward in faith. While we are walking God is speaking and directing. Most of where God leads and where we end up is based on Him leading from behind as we keep moving.
In Luke 11:28, we are told that our blessing comes by our choosing to hear and then living out what we hear because we believed it. “But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” It is our ears tuned to his voice that makes all the difference in our lives of faith.
Perhaps people have failed us and let us down and this is how we have gotten into the habit of believing that for anything to be true it must be seen first. Scripture defies this logic and reminds us over and over that with God for anything to be true God just has to speak it. In our lives we have to accept and believe what God speaks before it comes to pass. We must be doers of the Word-acting out the Word is an act of faith.
2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Faith is all about walking in obedience. Faith is not about what we see, but about what we hope to see and believe we will see, because we have trusted God. Our faith is what pleases God. God’s word means more to him than anything. His Word is Him. It has not and does not return void, no matter how long it takes to for us to see it in our human experience. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Elijah heard the sound of rain and after years of drought that was all He needed. His head was kept down to the ground as he prayed. He wasn’t looking, he was listening. I want to be a woman who pleases God. I need to spend more time listening for God instead of looking for God to act. He already is who He says. My reward comes from living with that truth and letting that be enough. God has spoken and is always speaking. I pray to be a better listener. I will have more faith if I am. His voice is truth, love, power and everything I need. Have you heard his voice? May that be enough for you and me to believe.
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