Following the voice of God is like being a sheep following the voice of a shepherd in a foggy field. The idea is to peacefully graze, following your bliss chomping on whatever bits of grass or weeds happen to strike your fancy in the square foot of earth in front of of you. All the while ambling steadily in the direction of the shepherd as he walks along, mumbling to himself, or perhaps a fellow shepherd, or other sheep, or sometimes even you. Just remaining nearby is all you really need to do. There you are safe. Unlikely to fall off of a cliff. Protected from predators or thieves. Simply able to graze as God intended.
The longer I try to follow the voice of God, the more I think that we over-complicate it. Or place higher expectations on it. As if God has step-by-step instructions for our day that we dare not miss, when really he himself is content for us to simply remain nearby. To steadily wander towards him whenever we happen to catch an echo of his voice in the fog of our busy day.
Maybe it’s not that God has something specific to say to me all the time. Maybe it’s enough to overhear him speaking to someone else. Perhaps overhearing his conversation with another sheep, or even catching the Trinity chatting amongst themselves. My expectation of a direct address is rather narcissistic, the more I think about it. Maybe sometimes I am more anxious to hear God say something specific to me than he is to say it. When I think I need some clear prophetic word, maybe all I really need is the faint, indistinct murmur of his voice. Just enough to tell me which direction to head towards.
You don’t need a prophetic word. Relax. Be a non-anxious sheep. Graze slowly and contentedly. Listen for the shepherd’s voice, no matter who he is speaking to. Let yourself be drawn near to him as you wander in the early morning fog.
