I have some hearing difficulties due to medical issues. Many times, I won’t hear something but it is not intentional. Of course, there are other moments when we do not hear something because we have our focus elsewhere. For example, we will be watching television and someone is trying to speak with us and we miss half of what was said. Maybe we are walking down a busy street, talking with a friend, but the conversation is difficult to hear because of the loud vehicles roaring down the street.
In 1 Samuel 28:5-7, we read: “When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid and his heart pounded. He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him in dreams or by the Urim or by the prophets. Saul then said to his servants, ‘Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her” (CSB). Saul asked to hear from God. Saul did not hear God. Was Saul in a place that he could actually hear God? Or did his disobedience keep God from speaking? Whatever the case, Saul had some hearing difficulties.
Saul immediately contacts another person. He never asks why he is not hearing from God. He doesn’t try to figure out what is happening. He does not take extra time to pray and fast. Instead, he looks for a medium to contact Samuel, which is not very fruitful.
If you are having some hearing difficulties, ask why. Take time to pray, to dig deeper into God’s Word, to meditate. Consider any sin that many be a stumbling block to communication. Consider that maybe you are not ready and in a place to hear from God. Or maybe He is speaking and you are not in a position to fully hear Him.
Friends, it can be difficult to hear. The best help is to slow down, to quiet the noise, and to make room. If you aren’t getting the answer you want, or if you aren’t getting an answer at all, do not quickly jump ship for others to give you direction. If you truly seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
Tania Gutekunst 