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Gindi Vincent

The Dish on Career, Fashion, Faith, and Family

Do You Hear God?

October 7, 2013 by Gindi 2 Comments

“I don’t really ever actually HEAR God,” she said.  “I just look around at what’s going on with my family and try to make a choice.  But when doors close or conflict arises, I question whether that is a test of my resilience or a sign that I’m going to the wrong direction.  What do you do?  Do you ‘hear’ God?”

Wow.

Hard question.

Is the stuff that comes up along the way a sign from God that you’re headed in the wrong direction or roadblocks thrown up by the devil to stop you from pursuing what God has for you?

Either? Neither?

I believe there are forces far greater than us at work in the world.  The colloquially termed good versus evil.  And it’s not always clear to us why things are happening the way they are happening.  There is so much we can’t explain around us.  The good stuff as well as the bad.  There are giant theological books written on the topic.

But in response to her simple question of, “Do you hear God,” my response was, “not in some big booming voice.”  I seek God.  I try to discern if my decisions are being led in the direction He desires.  I fail.  Everyday.

I do pray about it.  Especially about our family and those decisions that affect our home together.  I pray about our marriage because that informs so much of the tone we set at home.  I don’t hear a voice in the sky saying, “Bray’s right on this one” or “You are following My Will for your life.”  I assure, it’s nothing so momentous.
 
I also do not believe that struggle or challenge means it’s a door closing or a response of “no” (necessarily).  Life is full of struggle.  Going through a fire can refine you.  I have no doubt God brought these children into the world for a very specific purpose and to our family for a very specific reason, even though we struggled to conceive for years.  And we prayed a lot about that as we changed the steps we took along the way.  I do not believe our fertility struggle was God telling me not to be a parent, but rather He had something to teach me through those hard years. 
 
I make mistakes.  I don’t always discern the path I should take.  Then I seek forgiveness.  And I’m thankful for Grace.  All this Grace.  I mediate on scripture that I pray will guide my decisions.  I have some I go to all the time in a quest for His guidance and strength to move forward and make wise choices: Ephesians 3 (esp v. 14-21 – being rooted in Him); Daniel 9 (esp. v. 19 – asking for God to act not because I’m good enough but because I am His child); Colossians 1 (v. 9 praying for His wisdom).
 
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt… James 1
 
We pray before each meal and before bed.  We eat dinner together and pray together.  And then I muck it up – just last week at dinner I yelled because the kids kept playing with forks and dropping them.  But we’re all there, in it, together.  
 
My life is so imperfect.  It is messy and loud and smeared in peanut butter.  But I don’t doubt God’s in the middle of it.  Even when it’s really hard.  Especially when it’s really hard.

Filed Under: Faith

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shavonnah Roberts Schreiber says

    October 7, 2013 at 9:35 am

    “My life is so imperfect. It is messy and loud and smeared in peanut butter. But I don’t doubt God’s in the middle of it. Even when it’s really hard. Especially when it’s really hard.”

    Exactly! As I continue to seek God and He reveals more of Himself to me I am reminded that in our weaknesses God’s strength and grace are the most glorious. When I hit my “emotional wall” I am reminded that life is hard, very hard, but God and His grace is sufficient. I have found that the more I meditate on this, the more I feel I can face the next day without fear of “what’s going to happen next??” God is good my friend and He is right smack dab in the middle of our mess with us-every second of every day. Thanks for this post!

    Reply
    • Gindi says

      October 7, 2013 at 3:56 pm

      Oh it is so true. I tell everyone that I’m such a miracle story b/c if you just looked at me, you’d be like, “WHAT?” And then they sigh and say, oh yes, of course, GOD!

      Reply

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