Divine Encounters and Quiet Whispers
January 8
Genesis 34-35; Matthew 7; Psalm 103
“Who is waiting on whom? Are you waiting on God, or is God waiting on you?”
Years ago, I received a special invitation to attend a gathering featuring a wise, nearly 100-year-old man who would speak about Jesus. As we entered a small, intimate living room, about 30 of us quietly settled into our seats. Our chairs were arranged to face a recliner, and in that recliner sat the very old man, peacefully asleep. We held our collective breath, unwilling to disturb the sacred silence that enveloped us. I can’t fully describe the feeling or the silence, but it felt like we had entered holy ground.
The old man finally woke up, slowly gazed at each of us, and said:
“Who is waiting on whom? Are you waiting on God, or is God waiting on you?”
Then, he drifted back to sleep.
We dared not move, and no one uttered a word.
A few moments later, he woke up again and repeated:
“Who is waiting on whom? Are you waiting on God, or is God waiting on you?”
This continued.
As time passed, the question burned more intensely into my soul.
It’s not about the number of words we speak or the intensity of our voice. It all comes down to whether we are carrying the word of the Lord.
“Who is waiting on whom? Are you waiting on God, or is God waiting on you?”
The man was Arthur Burt, who went on to live to 102. At the time I heard him, I only knew one thing: He had ministered alongside Smith Wigglesworth. I knew he had experienced the miraculous and that he knew God.
Those who knew him best and most said this about him:
“He lived a transparent life, always seeking to remain anonymous, not seeking the recognition of man, and in doing so, he allowed the life of Jesus to manifest in and through him.”
What else is there? The point of it all is to live in union with Christ. This is the whole point. This is the invitation. We are invited into Oneness with God. I mean, think of that!
This small living room gathering changed my life. Isn’t it funny how it isn’t always the big, impressive things that bring transformation?
That reminds me of this passage:
I Kings 19
9 And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Elijah is in a bad place. He’s been through it. He’s feeling sorry for himself. His ministry has somehow led him into despair. I can relate, and maybe you can too.
Disappointments are real. And just like Elijah, we can find ourselves on the backside of nowhere, waiting for God. Waiting for some epic encounter. Waiting for some big thing we can identify as a “breakthrough.”
But for Elijah, the Lord wasn’t in the big thing. He wasn’t in the wind. He wasn’t in the earthquake or the fire.
There comes a time for each of us when the big thing is no longer the big thing. You know? I know you know.
The big thing just isn’t doing it for us anymore.
Maybe the big thing isn’t the big thing. Maybe it’s not the thing at all. Maybe we’ve got it all wrong.
And then…
And then the Lord comes in the whisper. He comes in the quiet. He addresses the pain we’re carrying. He addresses our false narratives and bad theology. And he does it in the stillness.
So it comes back to Mr. Burt’s question: “Who is waiting on whom? Are you waiting on God, or is God waiting on you?”
What is your answer?
I used to believe that I was waiting on God. I used to believe that I needed to somehow convince God to open the heavens, send revival, save my friends, and do what He promised, etc. I believed I was waiting on God.
I don’t believe that anymore.
After all, the door of heaven is wide open (Revelation 4:1). Jesus said, “It is finished,” accomplishing all of the Father’s will and ending our separation forever. Heaven’s outpouring isn’t my idea; it’s God’s idea. I’m not convincing Him; He’s moving in my life to convince me.
Which brings me to my final thought. We have to make a choice. We have to decide we’re going in and up! We must come to some conclusion. Is God worthy of our worship and praise, or do we need more convincing? We can’t stay in the valley of decision forever. It’s time!
It’s time to decide.
Psalm 103
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
On good days and bad days, I’ve decided to set my heart on the truth: Jesus is worthy! I’ve determined to command my soul, and I think you should too! Together, we will say, “Soul, bless the Lord!”
I don’t want God to wait anymore.
Deepening Faith: Reflective Journal Prompts on Transformation and God’s Timing
- Reflect on a moment when you felt you were waiting on God. How did it make you feel, and what insights did you gain during that waiting period?
- Share an experience of encountering divine wisdom or a profound whisper from God. How did it shape your perspective or decisions?
- Consider a time when you’ve witnessed a small, quiet event or moment that had a significant impact on your life. How did it change your perspective on what truly matters?
- Have you ever found yourself fixated on a “big thing” or an expectation, only to discover that it wasn’t what you truly needed? Describe that experience and what you learned from it.
- In what ways can you actively embrace the idea that God is waiting on you, rather than the other way around? How might this shift in perspective influence your relationship with God and your life’s journey?
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