One of my favorite truths – the kind that I cling to with all my might – is John 10: 27 – 28 when Jesus said,
27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
All of life is a journey of hearing Jesus’ voice and following Him with full-hearted faith that, all the while, His hand holds us safe.
So, when we “hear him wrong” or “think we hear him,” but circumstances prove otherwise, we needn’t be discouraged or embarrassed. We simply need to keep responding to His Spirit as it speaks to our spirits and guides us through Scripture.
***
It’s like this: picture yourself as a small child in a room full of daddies.
All wearing khaki pants.
So, from your vantage point, all you can see is a swarm of khaki legs.
You are looking for your father.
He sees you, of course, and calls your name.
You run towards his voice and passionately embrace a pair of khaki legs.
You look up.
“Oh, no. These are the wrong khaki legs. This is not him.”
What do you think your father would do in that moment?
Scold you?
Disown you?
Banish you with a lifetime of never hearing his voice again?
No, even an earthly father would understand the motivation and desire of his child’s heart.
He would call again.
Perhaps with more direction, this time. Perhaps, not.
What do you think you – the child – would do in that moment?
Continue to cling to the khaki legs, despite the strange face and strange voice that loomed above?
Give up on finding your father and escape?
No, even an earthly child would quickly release the mistake and pursue her father with even more passion and personal investment.
***
Don’t give up listening for your Father!
If you have “heard Him wrong” one hundred times, keep releasing the faux god and following the one true God.
If you are His sheep, you do hear His voice. Open Scripture and let Him tune your ear.
In my lifetime of listening for God, I’ve been wrong so many times.
(For example, five or so years ago, I was sure that God told us we were having a son, a boy, and that we should name him Solomon.
Yet, that Spring, we welcomed our beautiful daughter into the world and named her Vivienne.)
I’ve also been right so many times. Because of His gracious persisitence and love, I – a mere child – have heard the voice of the most Holy God and have followed Him. His Word, circumstances, and His Spirit have confirmed, “Yes. That was Me. You hear my voice and you follow me.”
There is no way I am going to be intimidated out of responding to His voice when I think I hear it. My Father knows my heart and sees my interest in following Him alone.
So, let God be true and every man a liar – including me. But, let God be true. And let me run after that Voice.
13If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11:13
