Does God Still Speak To His Children?
Ever since I was a kid, I wondered why God didn’t speak audibly to me like he did in the Bible. After expressing this thought to some of my friends, I started thinking about the times that God has spoken to me in my life. God talks to me through the Bible, and he has used other people, things, and circumstances for encouragement or rebuke. There were also a few times when he SPOKE to me—I did not audibly hear him, but in those moments, I absolutely knew that the thought came from God.
My previous church had a time of prayer and fasting at the beginning of every year. Around 2016, instead of fasting food, I decided to fast from TV. Back then, I used to watch a lot of TV whenever I had free time. On a dreary Sunday afternoon, during one of the days that I was fasting, I felt depressed and I decided to lie down on the bed. After about 15 minutes, a thought popped into my head from out of nowhere.
“You think that I love other people more than I love you because you think that their lives are easier than yours.“
My eyes popped open. I was dazed and puzzled.
God? Why did you say that?
After thinking about it a bit, I knew why he said it to me. I felt entitled to my definition of an ideal life. When I didn’t get what I wanted, I decided to believe the lie that God is unfair, and I chose to believe that God loved other people more than he loved me.
The truth is, because of Jesus’ sacrifice for me, I have everything that I need. I also have an inheritance—an eternity of unimaginable pleasures and joy with God.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11 ESV
The truth is that God allows temporary trials in our lives so that we can grow.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
When I am distracted, it is difficult to hear what God is saying to me. He is also a jealous god who doesn’t want me to put anyone or anything else above him.
James 1:2-4 ESV
For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Exodus 34:14 ESV
