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To whose voices do we listen?

We’re social beings, and we love to talk, some more than others! Throughout our lives, we’re part of various social circles: family, friends, co-workers, teammates. This myriad of different personalities enriches us. We create holiday memories and build relationships from shared interests and experiences. We laugh and cry together. We open our lives to each other and reveal the deepest parts of ourselves to those we love and trust. But what happens when our lives fall apart?

Community has both its good and bad aspects. We’re such fickle creatures and so easily swayed. When some scandal or disaster crashes in on someone’s life, we’re quick to react, more often than not with negativity. Many incredibly close relationships have soured over a misunderstanding or a poorly chosen word. People have had their reputations destroyed around the dinner table with reckless gossip based only on rumours. Others have had their faith undermined through a well-meaning but shallow comment. The voices we listen to, especially when we’re in a dark place, have the power to heal or to destroy.

Perhaps the most well-known example of this in the Bible is the advice given to Job by his friends and family. His is the classic story of a man who was relentlessly hammered by adversity, and yet, towards the end of his trials, he was able to say to God, “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” By then, his faith was no longer one of hearing about God but of seeing him in action.

When disaster strikes, friends and family inevitably want to do something to help. They want to lift our burden, to correct the situation. They may offer advice or possible solutions to console us. How do we sort through it all?

The story of Job is a useful template. We should hold up the advice that we’ve been given against what we know of God’s nature and of his relationship with us. If there’s anything which causes us to doubt that it fits, then we’re probably being led to turn from that advice. In particular, we should listen to those whose faith is strong, as well as to those who have suffered in some way. There’s no better way to Godly wisdom than through having walked the road through the “darkest valley” and having come out the other side. The help which comes from those who have struggled can be invaluable.

Discernment is important while one walks through the wilderness.

Be prepared to hear advice which has his wisdom, even if it’s not easy to hear. Choose the voices which nourish, which shine a light into your darkness. Don’t allow the voices of negativity to cloud the clarity of what you hear from God. It may even be necessary to avoid speaking to those whose advice distracts you from his guidance. Most importantly, keep listening intently for that “still, small voice” of God, which surpasses all human wisdom, and is the ultimate comfort and strength.

Some thoughts to ponder:

Which 'voices' are loudest to you right now? Are they voices of wisdom or negativity?

How can you listen more intently for the "still, small voice" of God by spending time with him in prayer and reading his Word?