Creating Experiences That Help Relationships Thrive

The Problem with Ignoring the Still Small Voice

“Something told me to…”
“I just had this weird feeling that I was supposed to…”
“Call it, woman’s intuition, I just knew that…”

Those are all phrases we’ve heard people use when trying to describe a feeling that they were SUPPOSED to do something. But didn’t.

That Still Small Voice…

I think the notion they are trying to capture is the still small voice mentioned in I Kings 19:11-13 . And it is God’s Spirit within in us, trying to tell us something for our benefit. The things is sometimes we ignore it.

That very thing happened to me last week! The worst part is that I’m studying, Hearing Godright now.

And I may have missed out on an opportunity, because I failed to listen. But I learned a valuable lesson: hear God and just obey. It is way better than sacrifice.

Has ignoring the still small voice ever come back to bite you?

17 Comments

  1. Linda Ables

    Hey Simone! WOW! It is truly that simple. Thanks for the clear picture of how practical and still the voice of the Father can be. This resonates with me SO much, and I have countless experiences when I realize that I didn’t listen… and thankfully a few when I did! PERFECT example… Yesterday I was taking Lukey (my 10 year old) to school. He said out of the blue, “Mom, you should take the gazebo down soon”. I have a sweet gazebo on my deck that I hide in all summer long, but it can not endure windy, cold seasons! I happened to have some free time that morning, and decided to do just that. It didn’t occur to me that the Lord used Lukey to give me that directive until a few hours later when the wind started picking up, and 2 of my neighbors commended me for such good timing. It was supposed to be a very windy night! Thank you Lord, for the little things… help us listen more attentively in Jesus name!
    (I’ve already had it blow over the deck once this year! 🙁 )

    • Simone

      Hey Linda! Thank you SO much for sharing this example. YES…our Father uses other people too! I love that the Lord is speaking to Lukey and he is listening! Just wow. I wonder if it’s easier for the Lord to speak to little ones, because they don’t try to reason things away? I say that, because Isaiah used to tell my parents things like this all the time, when he was growing up, it’d be stuff like “it’s going to rain” or something simple or practical. After several times, they recognized. Hey, this little boy is hearing God.

      I got a kick out of reading this —>> the voice of the Father is practical and still. Yes! He cares whether or not our gazebos fly off the deck and whether or not we, at least, put on some mascara and comb our hair. I’ve had MANY experiences where I’ve missed it to, but I’m hopeful that each experience draws me closer to hearing God clearly.

      Yes and amen to your prayer. Love you, Linda!

  2. Ashley Lawal

    I so agree and trying to listen daily:)

    • Simone

      Yes! Daily listening is THE key. He’s always speaking…the question is: are we listening?
      Thanks for stopping by, Ashley!

  3. Laura C. Brandenburg

    Such a great post, Simone. If ever I pause to listen, He’s always speaking! (And obeying IS the hard second step to take! :))

    • Simone

      Omigoodness, PAUSING to listen just me sent down a whole trail of thoughts…
      -We are SO busy these days, being movers and shakers!
      -Sometimes I forget to be still and know (Psalms 46:10)
      -obedience, yes, Yes, YES! Even when it seems inconsequential…
      I’m learning this hard lesson, little by little. Thanks for stopping by, Laura! And the grrrreat reminder to obey the call:-))

  4. Faith Simone

    Your nephew is adorable! Spending time with family is the best. 🙂

    Girl, I was cracking up when you said you were looking busted at Panera Bread…we’ve all been there. And it’s like, of COURSE I run into a publicist/potential agent, etc. It’s crazy how God teaches us powerful lessons in the seemingly small things. I personally love when that happens (not the looking busted part, lol) but the part about Him teaching me to recognize His voice. I believe He does that in the small things, so that when the big things come along, and we need to move in Him, we have no doubt about His direction.

    Just to give an example: I remember the exact moment God impressed on me that it was time for me to leave Dallas. I had been waffling back and forth about it, and one night I fell asleep on my couch. I woke up in the middle of the night and I just KNEW that God was telling me to prepare to move home to be with my family in Memphis. I told all my friends and family and they thought I was just talking again. I put in 2 months notice on my job, starting saving money, didn’t renew my lease on my apartment and people still thought I was just talking. 4 weeks before I was supposed to leave, I got news that my younger sister was in the hospital and really, really sick. I left town for Michigan within 48 hours. My obedience to obeying God’s direction meant that I had already trained my replacement on my job, I’d already saved up money, I’d already prepared my friends and Dallas family for my move, I hadn’t renewed my lease. In other words, there was nothing keeping me tied down in Dallas. I was ready and able to help my sister. And after 2 months in Michigan I went on to Memphis and God has opened sooooo many doors for me. That’s how I know it was Him. He trained me in the small things, so when I had to take a leap of faith on a big thing, I walked on in faith without a single doubt. And He honored that.

    Whew! I did not intend to preach a sermon in your comments Simone, but that thang just hit me.
    Faith Simone recently posted…Late Post: Ranches, Horses and…Me?????? #WritersRetreatMy Profile

    • Simone

      Sista Faith, imagine me waving my Martin Luther King Junior fan as I read your comment! Just wow.

      THIS IS exactly what I’m talking about:
      It’s crazy how God teaches us powerful lessons in the seemingly small things. I personally love when that happens (not the looking busted part, lol) but the part about Him teaching me to recognize His voice. I believe He does that in the small things, so that when the big things come along, and we need to move in Him, we have no doubt about His direction.

      I just didn’t state it as clearly or as you. He uses the small things to fine tune our hearing. (And, yes, I highly recommend you skip the looking busted part:).

      Actually, next year let’s talk about doing a conference call on Hearing God. Because it is not only vital to us, but it is also vital to our families and relationships. Your example of the call to leave Dallas is a PERFECT example of that and it positioned you to support you sister in a way that you would have NEVER been otherwise prepared for.

      Our Father is so intentional. And I’m curious how your relationship with your sister developed as a result of that time with her. Something similar happened when I moved to El Paso to be with my grandfather after my grandmother passed away. It was such a sweet couple of years that I got to spend with him.

      All that to say, thank you for preaching up in here! We needed to hear that testimony.

      • Faith Simone

        LOL! I don’t need any help looking busted…the struggle has been real with my looks lately, which is why I’ve been slowing down and going to bed at a decent hour. Ain’t nobody got time for premature aging. The devil is a liar!

        I would LOVE to do another call! Even though I’m terrified of public speaking, I know that God is slowly easing me into it. Your conference calls are the perfect way to do that…and I’m supposed to be committing to scoping in the New Year. Lord, help me!

        I think you expressed the importance of the small things perfectly and it helped remind me of God’s faithfulness to me. And trust me, I needed that right about now. 🙂
        Faith Simone recently posted…Late Post: Ranches, Horses and…Me?????? #WritersRetreatMy Profile

  5. Quanie Miller

    A. True. Lesson. I used to war with myself over whether or not I was “trippin” or if there was something to that small, quiet voice within. Not anymore! I have learned that when God is speaking, I better pay attention–and listen.

    • Simone

      Omigoodness, Quanie! I think that’s our default isn’t it?! To just think we’re trippin’ or having an off day. Yes, THAT is the key to everything…when He is speaking: pay attention AND listen.

  6. Nan

    Thanks for sharing! Good advice. Love Ya! 🙂

    • Simone

      Hey Nan! I’m hoping that I truly learned the lesson and don’t have to repeat it again. Thanks for stopping by.

  7. Monica afrotasticlady

    Yass…a lot! I have gotten into two car accidents that could have been avoided if I had listened to God when He told me to not drive on a certain day or to not take a certain on the exit. There is such beauty in just listening to Him. I can be a bit of a control freak. I’m working on it though cause God knows much better than I do.
    Monica afrotasticlady recently posted…A Prayer of LoveMy Profile

    • Simone

      Arghhh! Don’t you just hate that feeling, Monica?! First, let me say I’m so grateful that you weren’t injured. But in that moment, after a situation could have been avoided, it’s just like arghhhh…why didn’t I just listen? I agree with you–>> there is such beauty in listening to Him. He wants what’s best for us and can see waaaaay down the road of our lives. The good news is that, when incidents like accidents or showing up at Panera looking busted happen…it fine tunes our hearing. I’m praying that we all continue to hear Him more clearly.

      Thanks for sharing your story with us, Monica!

  8. Zen

    Hi Simone!
    Your article on fear was right on point! If I had to name one aspect of my life that holds me back in bondage it would have to be fear, worry and anxiety. Once this chain is broken the enemy knows that I would be unstoppable! However I struggle immensely in this area. Your pointers to
    1. Devote to prayer
    2. Listen and Obey to God’s voice
    3. Bring Peace on earth
    Were key points!

    • Simone

      Hi Zen!
      Thank you for stopping by and I’m so grateful that article encouraged you. You know, I think that’s why the Word of God talks about fear so much…because just like you said ‘it holds us in bondage.’ But with Christ we are overcomers and I’m learning that getting to know Him in a personal (through prayer, listening, and obeying) is THE best way to fight fear. Please keep in touch and know that I am praying for you.

      Blessings to you in 2016…Simone

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