God Doesn't Shout – He Whispers

So far, we have considered only the indirect ways in which God expresses his signified will for us to obey. But he also manifests that same signified will directly, through personal guidance revealed to each of us in many ways.

Very few people can think of even one time in their life when they heard God directly and clearly give them a word of command. Often our own lack of spiritual sensitivity is the problem. Yet by analyzing situations in which God has directly and clearly conveyed his will to more privileged souls, we can glean certain principles that will help us to discern and fulfill his will.

Let us take a look at Acts 16:6-10. Here is an example of a clear exposition of God’s will to the pioneers of the early Church. Paul, with Silas and Timothy, was on a missionary trip in the region of Phrygia and Galatia, “having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.” Later, “they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.” Obediently redirecting their steps, they went down to Troas, where Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia begging for help. He deduced that “God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” This story of divine guidance illustrates several principles that we would do well to bear in mind as we seek God’s will in our lives.

God always manifests his will while we are moving toward a goal, even if that goal is not always pre-defined. When the Lord altered their itinerary, these missionaries didn’t quit and to home. They continued to pursue their goal, while allowing /god to zig-zag their route. A ship that is moored cannot be piloted; a car that is parked cannot be steered. Only as we move in the current of the Holy Spirit are we given guidance in God’s will. A stagnant soul, waiting to be pushed by God, may have an endless wait.

We must always be prepared to hear God speak to us in any of many means, most of them not charismatically dramatic. The precise way in which the Spirit blocked the journey of Paul and his companions is not described in this passage. It may have been through visions (the man from Macedonia), providential circumstances, a charism of discernment or prophecy, or by simple common sense diviney enhances by a special “intuition.”

Divine guidance is always God-initiated. Like Paul and his companions, we may start out with a plan that we believe to be the will of God – which is any plan that can comfortably be lined up with God’s word. In the absence of any specific directions, we should continue to do what we know is to be done: cooking, shopping, working, and so on. Any change of agenda should come from God, who can easily affect the direction of our plans through a change of circumstances. These changes are sometimes pleasant, such as a “chance” meeting with an old friend or an unexpected kindness from a stranger. Other times, these “changes” come from a less-pleasant source: traffic jams, bankruptcies, earthquakes, family illnesses, and job losses. Whatever happens, the bottom line is Romans 8:28: “In all thingsGod works for the good of those who love him, who have bee called according to his purpose” – that is, those who respond to the call of his purposed will for them.

We will not hear God’s voice unless we listen prayerfully for it. Paul and Silas “looked for a place of prayer” as they traveled. Communing wit God (that is, prayer) requires the stillness of a prayer-saturated soul. This is why a contemplative person is more attuned to God’s will than one whose prayer is “chattering with the Lord.” Non-stop talkers seldom hear others.

Prayer is not talking to God, but talking with him – and that implies listening. During the Transfiguration, Peter was blathering excitedly about his plans to memorialize the event with three shrines, when the Father’s voice from heaven thundered, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!” (Mt 17:5). Peter’s plans for shrines on Mount Tabor were not God’s plans. Because he wasn’t listening, his fervent plans dead-ended in oblivion. Many of our sincere endeavors to do God’s will also end up in the garbage heap of human failure because we haven’t learned to listen prayerfully.

Divine proddings seldom come to us by visions or locutions. Far more often God speaks his will by reminding us, in particular situations, to act – or react - with heroic kindness and patience, with love and forgiveness; he inspires us to find creative ways to express concern for others as we plod through this vale of tears.

I recall asking myself one time what I had done that particular day to make this a better world. Ashamed at having to answer, “nothing,” I asked the Lord to inspire me to do one simple act that would be in accord with his will. The thought came to me that I might call a depressed client I had counseled. It turned out that when she answered the phone, she was holding a pill bottle, preparing to commit suicide by overdose. My call came just in time to lift her depression and save her life.

If we are listening and responding to God, we will recognize that such inspirations are too holy to have been initiated by us; they are graces divinely whispered into our soul. Each response to God’s will brings us to a higher level of spiritual security, and our feeling of peace and security increased as we snuggle ever closer into the warm embrace of God’s love. Our response to each tiny whisper of God’s Spirit is a precious act of virtue that rachets our soul to the next rung on the ladder reaching heavenward. Each brings a surge of growth in holiness. And after all, holiness – union with God – is the ultimate goal we seek in pursuing his will.

As a capstone to these reflections on obeying God’s will, I offer this passage from a book by James Leen, By Jacob’s Well:

“The divine will…is an immense storehouse. The present moment lived in the spirit of faith and love is the key of entry. When the soul enters the threshold it finds limitless treasures. To lay hold of this truth is to discover a path which leads straight to God. It is to discover, from morning until evening, in the commonplace happenings of life, numberless opportunities for accumulating spiritual treasure. These acts may be extremely ordinary and trivial in outward appearance. The constant recognition that they are God’s demands on us develops that tender thoughtfulness toward God and toward one’s fellows for the love of God. It might appear to the soul itself that it is offering to God the merest trifles, but it does not appear so to God. They are the most precious in his eyes.”

If we keep this simple truth in sight, we will remain in peace and security throughout our earthly life as we journey toward the eternal peace of heaven.

This excerpt is from the book The Art of Loving God by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications, 1995. This and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.