Hearing His Voice #33

Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!

1 Corinthians 13:9

We see only in part. Many mistakenly believe that anyone who claims to hear God’s voice is also claiming omniscience. But God reveals only what He wants us to know, and that’s almost always a very incomplete picture that still requires faith. He unveils the next step, or the encouragement we need at the moment, or the information necessary for the next decision; but He graces none of us with the ability to know His will at all times for all purposes. Everyone, even the greatest of Scripture’s prophets, has to wrestle with partial glimpses and meager explanations.

Why does God speak to us only in part? Doesn’t He want us to know the fullness of His plan? Certainly He wants us to appreciate what He has done, but why doesn’t He give us that appreciation on the front end of the journey rather than afterward? Perhaps it’s because the journey is designed to build faith, a vital key in our relationship with Him. Or maybe He knows that if we see the full picture, we will attempt to accomplish it with our own limited wisdom and resources. We don’t and can’t have the perspective needed to oversee the whole plan, so God gives us only one piece at a time. We have to cling to Him—and tune our ears to the sound of His voice—moment by moment. Otherwise, we risk serving our own ends in our own wisdom and developing a dangerous sense of independence.

Get used to hints and whispers and brief glimpses of His purposes. We can hear His voice clearly and confidently, but never comprehensively. That’s why we need the rest of the body of Christ; together we can discern God’s will. He reserves the fullness of revelation for a day when we can look back and give Him glory for the beauty of all He has done.

Lord, partial pictures are so frustrating, yet I know You don’t offer more to any one person. Help me to discern the parts I see and to trust in the parts You reveal to others.