Hearing His Voice #212

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.

Psalm 19:1-2

Every aspect of the universe tells us something about God. His invisible attributes—wisdom, glory, love, and much more—are seen in the visible world. The design of creation points to the Creator.

But creation can speak even more specifically than that. God has filled our lives with symbolic gestures—meaningful sights and sounds and smells that bring up memories or suggest a significant event we’ve experienced—and these gestures speak to us at surprisingly relevant moments. We see a symbol of wisdom at a moment when we’re desperate for wise counsel, or we hear a song that was meaningful in one situation when we’re now stuck in a similar situation, or a unique phrase that guided us in the past is suddenly brought into our present predicament. These “coincidences” are God’s way of speaking to us through His creation, pouring forth His voice to make His purposes and His love known to us at critical times.

Everyone’s “God language”—the specific symbols and gestures that become common in conversations with Him—is unique, based on our unique meaningful experiences. The particular words and pictures will vary from person to person, but the dynamic of this God language developing through ongoing communication with Him is universally available. We learn the language like any other: through hearing, interpreting through trial and error, and asking questions when meanings are unclear. Over time, we become fluent in hearing and in speaking back to God. More and more, we encounter His voice in everything around us. We find that the heavens, the skies, and even our everyday interactions with creation proclaim His glory.

Lord, the work of Your hands tells the whole world about who You are. It also often tells me what You want to say to me. You are sovereign over every word, name, sight, sound, symbol, song, creature, and message I perceive. Help me become familiar with the language You use in my life.