Hearing God’s Voice

Sometimes I am envious when I hear people testify about receiving clear guidance from God about the things going on in their lives.

I longed for that when I was trying to decide whether I should retire from the job I had held for thirty-three years. I even took a day from work to go for a hike and confer with God about what I should do. Even so, I never felt that I had a moment when God’s will or answer was obvious. I had to do it the old-fashioned way: weigh the options, consider the consequences, and pray continuously. I want Samuel’s experience when he heard God calling him during the night (1 Samuel 3).

I have been known to ask God not to give me the “still, small voice” but to send me a plane with a banner behind it, saying, “Jean, this is what I want you to do.” As with other times when I feel God does not pay me as much attention as He does others, it occurs to me that God has very vividly come to my aid at times.

Many of those times have been in scenarios that are inconsequential in the grand scheme of life. Specifically, I remember being woken up on a Friday night with a throbbing toothache. Of course, these things always happen at a time when you cannot resolve them immediately. Not only was it the middle of the night, but I would also not be able to call the dentist until Monday. I got up and took a painkiller, but the ache was still there an hour later. I kept praying, asking God to take away the pain so I could sleep. While lying there, I distinctly heard a voice in my head say, “Go gargle some Listerine.” What? Gargle mouthwash? Yet I was in pain, and I needed it to stop, so I got up and gargled Listerine. The pain went away; I fell asleep. I did not know that Listerine could stop toothaches. Only God could have told me to use Listerine.

I have since learned that antiseptic mouthwash, such as Listerine, temporarily deadens the nerves in the tooth to stop the pain.

Frequently, we are confronted with reasons to doubt God. Life is difficult at times. Clear, distinct guidance from God would be great.

But how much stronger do we become when we have to take the time to seek answers through Bible study, prayer, and meditation.

Jean Arthur