Your mind and your mouth are too busy to hear God!
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This is a column by Ian Allan, a retired Free Church minister living in Golspie.
Shut up, and let God speak!
Quite remarkable to realise this is what is said in Psalm 46 verse 10 according to WC Spraul. This is not quite the quiet caution that comes with many of our translations: ”Be still and know that I am God”.
The context of the saying is that of strife and difficulty.
So what happens when things get tough?
We start talking about it, but then when they get really tough we talk, and so does everyone else and so this builds up till there is a deafening level of noise, so much so, that we need to put our hands over ears and even call out in despair: “Oh be quiet will you!”
I think that is what is happening in these days of unprecedented difficulties.
In our generation it is not so much what you hear, but also what you see.
Remember the 9/11 attack on the twin towers in New York? Can you ever forget it? It is engraved upon our memories.
Once again we are being bombarded incessantly with information all relating to the Corona Virus pandemic.
Much of this is confusing and at times contradictory. Even the experts argue, and who are we to try and sort out fact from fiction?
We are inclined to say not only when will this ever end, but equally, when will people stop talking so much about it.
So the words I quoted at the beginning are so relevant and apt. “Will you not shut up and let God speak!?”
You can’t hear Him because your mind and your mouth are too busy!
So what is he saying? Just carry on and read the remaining words of this verse. He says: “I will be exalted among the nations”.
“What, is that all he is saying?” In a nutshell, yes.
Way back in March when things were beginning to “hot up”, this verse came to my mind, and I found it most useful for at least three reasons.
Firstly, it told me not to be so alarmed – the personal touch, “I know what you are thinking”, and then secondly, it gave me instructions, something to do, do not allow the voices of alarm from within and without to overwhelm me, “be quiet”!
Then thirdly, that there is the fact there is purpose in all of this. It is not saying I am entirely entitled to know all the reasons for the situation, but be assured there is reason for all of this. It does not say we will know all the reasons, that is not our prerogative. Who do we think we are, God?
What he does say is that out of all the chaos and pain, somehow or another people are going to think more highly of God, of Jesus Christ. At one level, this seems hard to believe. It does not say everyone will start thinking more about God, but some will. Since then I have begun to see this truth unfolding. A surprising amount of people have begun to make more “enquiries” about God. Perhaps the recognition that in spite of human achievements and successes, it has been a sobering experience to know that we are not invincible, that we are vulnerable, very vulnerable to little droplets of moisture that can contain a virus. Invisible to human eyes, but deadly (in some cases) to the human body.
In the words of some old preacher: “If you will not listen to God in the calm, He will make you listen in the storm”
In the words of Jesus Himself: “He that has ears to hear, let him hear!”
