We all have moments of vulnerability. Some of us are comfortable in that space, others are defensive. But I’m more curious about who you listen to when you are vulnerable.
The “in between” moments can be rough for little ole everything-in-its-place me. I feel vulnerable, most likely because I’m no longer in control of my surroundings. Listen, I’ve already confessed to having control issues, so there’s no need to revisit this.
Let’s focus on the vulnerable part. We all have moments of vulnerability. Some of us are comfortable in that space, others are defensive. But I’m more curious about who you listen to when you are vulnerable.
I recently met with a close friend who wanted to share a little about the season of life she felt she was entering. She had identified a specific area in her life that God was calling her to improve, and I wholeheartedly affirmed this for her.
But as I listened, I also heard hints of defeat, as though part of her had already quit on this journey before she even took the first step. At that moment, she was vulnerable. She had shared something deeply personal with me, and I knew that my response could either be part of her healing process or become a wound that would delay it.
I chose my words carefully, and I prayed that her heart would be encouraged. By the way, that’s the same thing I do every single week when I sit down to write to you.
We may not be able to control what we hear, but we can absolutely control what we listen to.
We may not be able to control what we hear, but we can absolutely control what we listen to. We don’t have to heed every bit of instruction just because it sounds like wisdom. In fact, this may even lead us astray. Remember the Garden of Eden? The serpent was crafty with his words, wrapping his lies up in truth.
Or consider Jesus in the wilderness. When Satan quoted scripture to Jesus, he wasn’t lying. That was actual scripture (I’ll include the references to both of these events below); it was just misused.
So how do you know which voice to heed? When the serpent sounds like God and the Devil memorizes more scripture than you do, how do you figure out who is telling the truth?
When the serpent sounds like God and the Devil memorizes more scripture than you do, how do you figure out who is telling the truth?
The voice of your enemy will speak to you about yourself. He will tell you all the broad brushed reasons that you will not be successful. He will condemn God and exalt you. He will distract you from the good and cause you to focus on the bad.
The voice of your enemy will challenge God’s Word. He will cast doubt on the things that God has spoken. “Did God really say…” will spring to life in your mind, and suddenly you’re not so sure anymore.
He will accuse anyone and anything that has ever spoken Truth to you. You’ll start to question the Church, it’s leadership, and anyone who attends. You’ll confuse hurt feelings with church hurt, accountability with toxicity. You’ll begin to believe that God’s love equates to His acceptance of cultural whims. You’ll look at sin and excuse it because it’s “normal.”
And eventually, you will be numb. Caught in an endless loop of his deadly monologue, you’ll barely be able to hear the Voice that calls you into Light. You will be bound. Unable to leave. Completely ineffective for the Kingdom. Alive, but no longer living.
The voice of your God will sing over you. The voice of your Father will speak of the future you have in Him. The voice of your Savior is victorious. The voice of your Helper is specific.
But the voice of your God will sing over you. He will remind you that you are covered, accepted, loved. You belong to Him, and He delights in loving you.
The voice of your Father will speak of the future you have in Him because He is rooting for you. He crafted a life more abundant for you, and though He loves surprising you, He also wants to encourage you by letting you see just enough to overpower any doubt that it really is coming.
The voice of your Savior is victorious. He has already defeated the very death that paralyzes you in the corner. He reminds you that hurt feelings cannot compare with the confidence of His lordship. His triumph over sin is eternal. Culture cannot resurrect what Christ defeated. You are free indeed.
The voice of your Helper is specific. He will not condemn, but He will convict. So listen for the details. Condemnation is broad and overwhelming. Conviction is specific and comes with instruction: confess, repent, and keep going. He will challenge you to mature, even as heaven celebrates your growth.
One voice speaks condemnation. The other speaks conviction.
One voice keeps you down. The other calls you up.
One voice says “You can’t.” But the other says “He already did.”
Wow! This really spoke to me! Thank you for sharing this! This is something the Holy Spirit is working with me on, defrentiating the voice of the Holy Spirit from the enemy.
“He will condemn God and exalt you.” This is one thing the Holy Spirit has shown me that the enemy will do! One voice speaks condemnation. The other speaks conviction.
I loved the whole post! This is one part that really spoke to me!
“One voice keeps you down. The other calls you up.
One voice says “You can’t.” But the other says “He already did.”
So the United Methodist response is almost the same. God will never guide us to do anything that has the potential to hurt someone. Even people we don’t like or disagree with.
God speaks of love. Long term love. “How we can best serve this group of people?” And we will be expected to really do our homework. Talk to people from that group. Learn more. What do they think will help? What has been their experience with various approaches?
I love Bible Studies. I love hearing other’s experiences. And that brings me to another way to help discern who’s talking.
Stay in touch.