The heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. (Ezek. 1:1)

HAVE THE HEAVENS OPENED for you lately? How we long for the triumphant command of God’s voice, speaking into our situations the words of peace and comfort we so desperately need. If only the clouds would part and we could hear above the clamor of our pain, then we could know for sure His will. We could move forward in confidence, secure in the knowledge we have His approval for our vision, answers for our dilemmas, or confirmation of our rightness.

Considering how rare this kind of experience is, we may wonder why God doesn’t make himself visible to us, why He doesn’t appear when we need Him to. Why won’t the God who rules the universe give us the outward signs that would ease our anxiety and douse our doubts? Is He not able to do that for His children?

Yes, He is able. His steadfast guidance is there for us. He longs to confirm or deter our plans to keep us from harm, but His ways are sovereign. There is a special revelation that only comes through intimate communication, by way of arduous seeking and listening. It is a skill to be practiced and perfected. When we have learned to hear God through this method, we gain the confidence that He speaks to us through conversation just as mightily as through the dramatic opening of the heavens.

Quiet your mind and tune your ear to God’s voice.

Jan Cline is an author, speaker, and founder and director of a Christian writers’ conference in the Northwest.

© 2017 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.