Hearing His Voice #250

[Prophets and priests] offer superficial treatments for my people’s mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when there is no peace.

Jeremiah 6:14

False prophets are known for telling people what they want to hear. So it stands to reason that true prophets would be known for telling people what they don’t want to hear, right? Well, sometimes. But even though biblical prophecy gets a bad rap for being negative, that isn’t a very accurate assessment. True prophets tell the truth. Sometimes their words express harsh warnings, as in the time of Israel’s captivity, but even then they are balanced with hope. God always declares the redemptive side of His plan, even when the truth hurts.

We need to find that balance. Some people assume that anything God says will tickle their ears. Others assume that anything God says will reek of disapproval. Anyone expressing either of those extremes is not representing God’s true voice. He will be honest with us, but there will always be hope in what He says. That was true in what He spoke through Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and virtually every other biblical prophet. Even the harshest warnings, rare in the course of redemptive history, were precursors to a positive end. Why? Because God knows where His people are headed, and it’s all eventually good when they choose to listen to Him.

Don’t fall for the lie that God will tell you yes to everything that crosses your mind. But don’t fall for the opposite lie that He will never say yes to what you truly desire. His ultimate purpose is to bring us into His joy and lavish on us the extravagant blessings of His Kingdom, now and forever. He will never speak peace to us when there is no peace. But He will speak peace every chance He can do so truthfully.

Lord, help me learn to recognize Your voice by the balance in it. You sandwich Your hardest words between comforting, strengthening affirmations. I want to hear words of peace when they are really from You and ignore them when they aren’t. Help me take every word of Yours to heart and fully live the ones You’ve spoken.