“How precious is your steadfast love, O God! Psalm 36:7

We continue our series on building a close connection with God. We need to train our ears to hear His voice. God’s voice is a whisper, and in order to hear it, we must remain close to Him.  He only reveals Himself and His voice to those who have cultivated an intimate, loving relationship. 

There is one foundational truth needed for us to be able to hear God’s voice. It seems elementary to note, but if we miss this one point, we will not be able to hear God’s voice. God loves you. Just as you are, right where you’re at.

God loves you!

Let that sink in a little more. We have to settle it in our hearts from the beginning that God loves us and wants to speak to us. Without understanding His love, we won’t hear His voice.

Does God Love Me?

I’m fourteen and shuffled off to a Confirmation retreat with a bunch of wiggly eighth graders.  Really, we’re just happy to get away together. We giggle and gag as we discover boxes of Raisin Bran filled with cobwebs as we prepare for breakfast the first morning of the retreat. Oh my gosh, when was the last time someone was in this camp kitchen?

I know nothing of this thing called Confirmation. What am I even confirming? I think someone mentioned my baptism, but what does that mean to a kid who barely graces the doors of a church? I’m just an awkward teen looking for fun and a few days away from the chaos at home.

The coneflower blue sky is brilliant against copper leaves as I walk in the woods. I sense God’s love outside in the sun. I felt this way often as a young girl. I wonder if this is a normal way for others to sense God’s love? Why would He even love me?  I’ve done nothing exceptional. I’m a nobody who feels insecure and unloved. The pastor speaks of God’s love, and I want to believe it, but there’s all this proof that I’m not loved. What do I do with the evidence?

I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with this feeling, this joy, and warmth rising in my chest.  Someone help me find my way to God. I want to walk in His light, but shame keeps me in the shadows. The feeling is fleeting as I don’t know who to turn to. But that day, in the sun, I knew God loved me. I could feel it. I could taste it. I felt wrapped in it, for certain, even if it was only a few fleeting moments. God was drawing me with His love.

Hearing from God does not depend on a formula or a method but rather a relationship. First, we must be assured that God loves us. Love is the foundation we build upon as we learn to hear His voice.

God is love. Everything He does is loving. His motivation and actions are always rooted in love.  Do we believe this? And if we don’t, we must get to the root of it. We must pull up the lie that we aren’t loved. Only the truth from God’s Word can heal this heart wound in us.

Truth About God’s Love

• “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

• “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” John 14:21

• “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us. No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 35, 37,39

• “We know what real love is because Jesus gave us his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16

• “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love-not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. We love each other because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:9-10,19

We are going to feel disconnected to God when we don’t understand the depth of His love for us. Here’s your assignment this week.  If receiving God’s love is hard for you, take the first step, and acknowledge your struggle. Next, have a conversation with God about it. Pour out your honest doubts and concerns.  Lastly, ask God to reveal His love to you.  Most important is to watch, eyes open, expectant that God will show you.  

Let’s pray this prayer…

Dear Papa, I want to know and understand at the core of my being that You love me.  I’ve wrestled with this truth and have been frustrated and it’s made me create distance between us.  I’m removing the wall today and asking You to reveal Your love to me.  You can reveal it through the Word, other people, beauty, or Your still small voice.  I want to hear You more than anything and understand Your love for me. Amen.

Next week we’ll talk about the ways God speaks. 

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