(Written in August, 2024)

I have a new home. I am now living in a long term care setting. I don’t necessarily miss my house. And I don’t necessarily miss my wife because she comes to see me pretty regularly. And, I don’t really worry about her. You see, about two years ago, I must have had a premonition that this would happen because I, someone who is not a dog person, began insisting that we get a dog, And not just any dog, but a big dog. Yes, I knew my wife would be safe, no matter what happened to me.

What I didn’t know was that as soon as I went into the care home, they would begin to tear up our street. Even that wouldn’t have worried me, except the big machines cut the internet cable into our house. Again, that would all be fine and good, except… You see, we do not have a landline telephone into our house. We only have my wife’s cell phone, and about two months after she signed on with her new contract, we stopped having cell service in our house. Unable to get out of the contract, the only way she is able to use the phone is by setting it to Wi-Fi calling. Therefore, if our Wi-Fi is out, my wife has no telephone.

That was concerning!

My wife called as soon as she discovered that the Wi-Fi was out, and once they realized that the Wi-fi was also the only phone source into the house, they agreed to send a technician the following day. Sure enough, by 8:30 the next morning, the repairman was working on the repairs, and by 8:45, Wi-Fi was once again up and running. I could once again breathe easy. My wife was safe. She had a reliable phone again, and she had the dog.

God takes care of all of our needs. Why do we worry? He even worries about whether or not we have phone service to our homes!

However, this story makes me think about how important communication is. Of course, decade ago there were no such thing as cell phones, and families who lived far apart were only able to communicate with letters. I remember those days. How I would stand by the mailbox for hours until the mailman came just to see if I had received a letter from a loved one.

Centuries before this, we didn’t even have a mail service. And although I can truthfully say I am not old enough to remember those days, news of family members who lived far away was almost impossible to get. I don’t know about you, but I much prefer being able to be in contact with family immediately, without having to wait for the slow mail, or even worse, maybe not even knowing at all.

Fortunately for us, communication with God has never been easier. “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” (Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV).

It must have been difficult waiting for a prophet to speak in order to hear God’s voice. We know that throughout Israel’s history, there were times when prophets did not speak too much. Take, for example, the time just before Samuel, the last judge of Israel, became judge. It is recorded, ”In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.” (1 Samuel 1:1 NIV).

But praise be to God, this is no longer the case. Now, God speaks to us through His son. We don’t have to wait for prophets to receive revelations, we can go directly to God ourselves. I, for one, am very happy about this.

There are times, however, when it seems like God is no longer speaking to us, when it seems like the wire to our Wi-Fi that runs our telephone line to God has been cut. The truth of the matter is, however, our telephone line to God is never cut. It is always a direct, open line. Whenever it seems like God is being silent, it is usually because we are trying to rush Him out of His perfect timing. At other times, it is because we are simply not listening. Or perhaps that we are trying to change His mind and to get Him to agree to our own agendas. Either way, we will not hear His voice clearly.

What do you do, then, when it seems like you’re line to God has been cut? You do the following:

a) You put your own agenda aside,
b) You seek the Lord in humility with all of your heart, mind, soul and spirit, and
c) You agree to surrender to His time and His ways.

When you do these three things, you will hear His voice again. Clearly!

Inspired by Rob Chaffart.
Founder, AnswerswPrayer Ministries.