Joyful Ruins

I wrote this blog post originally for another site. That site called this post unbiblical. I share this with you because it has been my experience as I’ve grown in my faith that God is so much bigger and personal than we can imagine. I don’t see this post as unbiblical, but spiritual and biblically sound. God spoke to people in numerous and unique ways in the Bible, from a burning bush to a gentle whisper. I wrote this in hopes it will help others see that God is wanting to speak to you in the personal ways He puts right before you. But, as in all my writings, if it does not speak to you, please do not lot it jar your faith, safety, belovedness. Only take this as a tool if it sits right in your heart, is edifying, and encourages you.

We’ve been taught certain rules about how God communicates with us and to us. Some have been taught that the Bible is the only “right” way to hear from Him.

               Others have been told you will only hear Him through the speaking of tongues or prophecy.

               Many are left ashamed that they don’t hear from God like others do. They wonder what is wrong with them and their faith. Did God forget them? Are they not praying enough? Did they sin in a way they didn’t realize? Was God punishing them? They see those around them enjoying scripture, having a lively prayer life, and feeling God’s presence. Those around them seem so connected to God, but they just can’t seem to connect to Him. They don’t feel what others feel.

               Truthfully, I have heard this sorrow and disappointment from my many friends. They struggle to connect to an intangible God.

Get out of the Box

               I think part of that struggle to connect with the Lord stems from the box we have been taught to place our relationship with God in. Whether it is the box of laws or feelings, we have forgotten that our relationship with Him is Father/Child, Friend/Friend, and that means it is unique, intimate, and special. This means that connecting with God has a lot to do with how He made you and what brings you to life.

               I encourage you to expand the way you think about how God speaks. I encourage you to not search for feelings you don’t feel or add more spiritual disciplines that don’t seem to get you anywhere. He does speak through feelings, His word, spiritual disciplines, His spirit. He does speak through sermons and community.

               However, your relationship with the Lord is very special and it is like human relationships. It is like human relationships in that you don’t do chores to get to know a friend. You don’t force yourself to feel a certain away around the people you love. You don’t expect to know someone just by reading their Wikipedia or facebook bio. So, let me open your eyes to other ways He may speak to you.

Ways He May Speak

               Perhaps you love nature. When you are outside, you soak up the sun, the trees, and all of life fills your heart. I would encourage you, next time you go out to enjoy the outdoors, to notice special things. To notice the treasures you see. Maybe a yellow butterfly flitting next to you. Perhaps, a perfect pink rose that catches your breath. Whatever it is, it will feel special, meaningful, and personal.

               Because God made you in a way to delight in nature, He speaks to you through that love. That yellow butterfly might just show up in the middle of a bad day. The pink rose may remind you that He cares for you more than He does the flowers. Look for His messages of love in the way you are made.

               God speaks through so many activities, passions, personalities, and loves. He speaks through movies, books, music. Through art, athletics, math. He is not limited by our fixed ideas of how He speaks. His love towards us is limitless.

All you need is to know how He made you. All you need is an open heart to the way he speaks.

               It is a new kind of language to learn and might take some time, but He is there, He is speaking if you choose to let Him out of the box you have placed Him in.

               And if He still seems silent, know that silence is a way of love too. Your greatest relationships are ones where you can be together without the pressure of talking. Perhaps God is saying through His silence to you that His love is safe, secure, so present that you do not even need words to express it or add security to it.

Try it out

               Now is the time to look at how God made you. Take up a pen and paper or type things down on your phone and follow along.

1. Write down 5 favorite activities.

God delights over you and delights in the activities you delight in. If you love dancing, He may just speak to you through the movement of your body. As you dance, you sense His presence. Be open to that when you are dancing. That connection is His way of loving you.

• Write down 5 of your closest friends.

God certainly speaks through our loved ones. I have found Him speaking through even non believers in my life. Do you know why He does that? Because He cares so much about us and those in our circle that He chooses to communicate His love through them all. Those close friends that you communicate with on a consistent basis will certainly be involved in God’s voice to you. Know that He is moving through them to care for you.

• Get out and look around.

One of the best ways to experience God is to get moving and out in the world. He may just speak to you through a stranger’s compliment or, like I stated above, nature. You might go to a coffee shop and, surprise, someone has paid for your coffee. How do I know that these random events are from the Lord? Because they are rarely random when they happen. They always happen when you need them most or when you am searching for answers. And remember, God is love, so when you experience surprise moments of love out in the world, that is Him on the move.

• Know yourself.

Look, God fearfully and wonderfully made you. He made you special. The more you understand how unique you are, your quirks, your attachment style, all those things that makeup you, the good and the bad, the more you will understand how God communicates with you. He knows your love language is words of affirmation, so He will send it your way in forms of friends, scripture, or other ways. Knowing and delighting in yourself is looking at God’s image in you and saying “it is good”. He sees you just as you are and He wants to become close to you just as you are.

• Pay attention to words.

I am not a “signs” girl. I used to believe in signs being sent to me so much that I made up signs where there weren’t any (Seriously, I thought this guy and me should get married because he liked this same obscure song I did, yikes!). However, I do often experience God speaking to me through song lyrics, books I read, social media posts, etc. God’s word is the most powerful place to learn His character and hear His voice. I encourage you to start there. It’s only because I have a strong foundation of reading God’s word, which is constantly new and living, I am able to experience His voice through other words that align with His truth. I will listen to my playlist and a song will speak the exact words I needed to hear from Him. I am reading a book and a quote uplifts my soul. God is not limited to the Bible, He goes above and beyond to love you.