Sound Advice In A Noisy World

Sound Advice in a Noisy World

The LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. . . . but the LORD was not in the wind. . . . There was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. . . . There was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-12

The world is full of loud voices trying to get our attention. Usually the loudest are the ones least worth listening to. When God spoke to Elijah, He did so with “a gentle whisper.” That’s how wisdom usually comes to us. Whether it is God’s voice or the counsel of a friend, the words we most need to hear are the ones we actually have to make an effort to listen to.

No matter how many friends you have, you probably only turn to a few when you need advice. Number one on my list of confidants is my bride, Lauren. She has been a voice of encouragement, love, character, and godly wisdom as long as I’ve known her. And I have a few other voices of wisdom in my life as well—friends I can count on to give me honest feedback and sound advice when I need it.

But most of us let a few other voices affect us too. The opinion of the crowd sometimes weighs more than it should. There’s no shortage of internal voices either: ambition, power, wealth, revenge, greed, pleasure, compromise, and self-centeredness. In one respect or another, all of these voices—whether internal or external—are simply expressing the ways of the world. And they can be noisy and relentless. In order to hear true wisdom, we have to ignore some pretty loud words and listen to the subtle ones.

Learn to tune in to the quiet voices that consistently speak truth to you. First and foremost, that’s God. Practice hearing His gentle whisper. But also listen to the counsel of those you trust: your spouse, your parents and other family members, your close friends. These people know you well, they have been with you in the valleys and on the mountaintops, and unlike many other voices, they want what’s best for you.

Uncommon Key > Listen to the voices of those who have earned the right to be heard. The words of those who have been faithful to you—who are speaking God’s words—are worth far more than the words of the world.