Trusting God's Voice

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Psalms 20:7 (NIV)

I watched him sleeping, his lethargic six-week old body with IV’s in both hands. This was not how I envisioned my first Mother’s Day.

Two nurses came in and prepared to run another IV with some type of antibiotic fluid. I listened to their whispers. My heart tightened. I realized they were discussing putting the IV needle in his head, because that’s where they could see the vein.

I'm sure the nurses were well trained. I'm sure they knew what they were doing. But something about it didn't feel right.

There I stood, a young mom with a history of shying away from confrontation. But the Holy Spirit clearly directed me at that moment. It was time to speak up and voice my opposition to this treatment option.

It was time to trust God's voice.

There are times in life when God directs us to trust others, but never before trusting Him. (Tweet this.)

If we ask him each day to direct our steps and guide us in decision-making, He will intervene when those difficult moments arise.

Trust is hard. I often question if I heard Him right.

We’ve all experienced moments of doubt. We've all feared making a mistake. We've wondered whether to be silent or speak up.

So what is the answer when we don't know what to do? We remember where to place our trust.

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Psalms 20:7 (NIV)

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines trust this way:

• to believe that someone or something is reliable, good, honest
• to believe that something is true or correct
• to hope or expect that something is true

Since Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding,” (emphasis added) we can interpret the definition this way:

• to believe that the Lord is reliable, good, honest
• to believe that the Lord is true or correct
• to hope or expect that the Lord is true

If ever I needed to trust and believe that the Lord was correct, it was that moment. I spoke up, and the nurses responded in agreement to my concerns.

Soon after, the results came back with good news. A couple of nights later we took our baby home.

I listened to God's prompting that day in the hospital. I also learned a valuable lesson. At times, God directs us to boldness. Other times He beckons us to be silent. As long as we put our trust in God, His Holy Spirit continues to guide our hearts and actions in every situation.

As we grow closer to God, hearing and trusting His voice becomes easier. Let’s draw closer to Him today and put ourselves in a position to discern God's voice in our lives.

Kristine

For more on how to trust God's voice, check out this devotional, 2 Ways to Choose Trust, by fellow writer and life coach, Carmen Horne. 

When Busyness Leads to Loneliness

 (This post has been updated since original publication.)

Last week’s devotion revealed What the Bible Says about Being Busy. If you didn’t get a chance to read it, click the title link to take you there.

In that post, we discovered someone else in Scripture (besides Martha) struggled with being too busy. Today we will uncover how busyness can lead to loneliness, and what we can do to guard against it.

I'm around people all the time at work and at home, so why do I still feel lonely?

Have you ever asked yourself this question? Have you found yourself in that place where you feel like you can’t get a moment of peace and quiet, yet you feel alone? Or maybe you interact on social media daily but still feel disconnected.

Busyness can draw us away from others.

Not long ago, I went to a local community event with my husband. I recognized faces of folks we’d known for years, and some we’d recently met. Yet as I searched through the crowd for a seat, a sobering thought came to me.

I didn’t feel like I knew any of them well enough to take a seat beside them and strike up a conversation.

Awkwardness grew while we stood there, scanning the rows for someone, anyone who might wave a friendly hand, signaling us to join them. But that didn’t happen, so we found a seat alone.

I thought about how many of those familiar faces were my friends on social media. I wondered why I didn’t feel comfortable approaching them for face-to-face conversation. Could it be that my time on social media was actually drawing me away from close relationships?

The convenience of connecting online gives the illusion that we’re saving time. When in reality, we’re just making more time to fill with more items on the to-do list. 

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b NIV

God loves relationship.

His Word assures us of His desire for relationship with us. Isaiah 41:10 says, So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

God’s love for relationship begins between us and Him, but it doesn’t stop there. He also teaches us the importance of relationships with one another.

“God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.” Psalm 68:6 NLT

When we draw closer to Christ and then connect with others, something remarkable happens. Our relationships draw others to Christ.

As we meditate on these verses this week, let’s allow God to reveal where we can connect with others. Prioritizing relationships will guard our hearts against loneliness that comes from being too busy.

Need ideas for how to grow those friendships? My online and in-person friend Mitzi wrote Real Friends Build Each Other Up, where she shares a free printable with 8 Ways to Bless Your Friends. Feel free to click the link to check it out.

Blessings,

Kristine