He Is Calling Me
“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
Psalm 119:130
Recently, a friend asked me for prayer and she expressed her desire to hear God’s calling. I could relate. I too, long to hear His voice, to tell me which direction to go, to encourage me when to reach out to others, and to pull me closer to Him when I step too far away.
I expect His calling to be loud, above all others. I want His message to be boldly spoken where I have no doubt that it is Him. I imagine an echo of His voice that shakes the ground beneath me and makes me stop to pay close attention to His words. I wait. I wait longer. I wait impatiently. The longer I wait, the harder waiting becomes… I question His calling, wondering why I cannot hear it.
Silly me.
“I have called you by name; you are mine.”
Isaiah 43:1
He has never stopped calling me. He IS calling me now, but there is a reason I cannot hear Him. I am listening for the wrong tone of voice.
When I want to gain the attention of my children, especially if they are at a distance, I take a deep breath and yell their names out loud. Sometimes, it takes more than one attempt, but eventually they respond. I expect God’s call for me to be of similar quality and tone, but He is greater than I, and I am foolish to think that He and I should sound the same.
This season of my life is filled with noise–beautiful noises of children, chaos, and life. Often, I cannot hear my own thoughts, let alone God’s calling. When I am able, I quietly step out of my house and step into His creation where I can tangibly experience His greatness all around me. I look up to see the endless sky painted with colors of the sunset. I silence myself long enough to hear the trees dancing in the background.
God is calling me, as a Father calls out to His child. He takes a deep breath and yells my name. If I quiet the the noises of my own life, I am able to hear and feel the breeze brush against my face. The wind is His breath. He is calling me, and outside, in nature, is where I can hear Him best.
“the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;”
Numbers 6:25
When my children stray too far from home, no matter how loudly I yell for them, they cannot hear me. And when they are in need and call out to me, I cannot hear them. I cannot respond. I cannot help them.
God is not limited in the ways that I am. When I stray too far away, God’s call can always reach me. I can go anywhere, near or far, and still have immediate access to Him. I am never alone. I realize how free I really am.
I am free to feel His embrace when the wind wraps itself around me. I am free to see His Light through the sun, the moon, and the stars that are forever present. I am free because He shares my burdens and knows my joy. He is calling me, and I am always trying to remember to listen and hear what He has for me.
“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.”
Psalm 107:29
When I allow my emotions of love to rise to the surface, I stop yelling and I listen more. I gesture silently for my child to come close to me, so I can lean in and whisper something special in their ear. Their smile lets me know that they have heard my heart, and without a prompt, they reply to me with a whisper of their own. It is a quiet and intimate exchange between the two of us, but the love shared speaks volumes.
Why then do I expect God’s call to be loud like a thunderous roar? I am His child, He gestures silently for me to come closer to Him, so that we too, can have a shared moment. Sometimes I find that solace outdoors, where the noises of my life are mute, and His creations speak boldly to me, traveling endlessly in all kinds of ways. Other times, He grabs my attention through the innocence of my children, who are being used by Him, to get to me.
Recently, my seven-year-old daughter said, “Mommy, sometimes I try to hear His voice, but I can’t…I just feel Him.” Yes, sweet child of God, He is calling you.
He is calling me, too.
My prayer today is that you would be willing to silence your own voice, in order to listen for His. Continue to position yourself to listen until the noises in your own life begin to fade and His call becomes clearer. Be patient and know that He is always present and there is always Light.
“Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.”
Psalm 27:7
Lorie Hanna is honored to be a part of the Texas Army Aviation National Guard family- called to live a military life within a civilian community. This Jersey girl fell in love with a Texan on an overseas study abroad program in 1999, and has been living outside of her comfort zone ever since. Her Jewish roots are a strong foundation for her evolving Christian walk. She and her husband are blessed with five healthy children, all born within six years of each other! She has a background in public relations, special education, vocational rehabilitation counseling, and has taught several years as a homeschool mom.
