Let God Take His Time to Speak—Be Prepared Always
Verses:1 Kings 17:2-4, 8-9
"Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: 'Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.'... Then the word of the Lord came to him: 'Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.'"
In the life of Elijah, we see a profound truth about our relationship with God: He speaks when He chooses, and our role is to be prepared to listen. The narrative in 1 Kings 17 reveals that God did not speak to Elijah every day or at every moment. Instead, He spoke at critical junctures, delivering pivotal messages that guided Elijah’s steps. This teaches us that a genuine spiritual life is not about forcing God to speak to us on our terms but about being ready to hear Him whenever He chooses to speak.
Often, we fall into the trap of expecting God to communicate with us in a routine or mechanical way. We may even create artificial benchmarks of spirituality, thinking that a "good" Christian must hear from God daily or at every trivial moment. But this mindset can lead to a shallow, performance-based relationship with Him. Worse still, when we fabricate God’s voice—forcing Him to speak mechanically or on demand—we endanger ourselves to misguidings and false teachings. The Bible shows us that God’s servants never rushed God or demanded constant reassurance. Instead, they remained in His presence, trusting that He would speak when the time was right.
Elijah’s story illustrates this beautifully. After delivering a bold message to King Ahab, Elijah did not anxiously wait for God to speak again immediately. He obeyed the first instruction and waited. God spoke again only when it was necessary—first to direct Elijah to the brook at Kerith, and later to send him to Zarephath. These moments of divine communication were not frequent, but they were timely and life-giving. Elijah’s readiness to hear and obey, even after periods of silence, is a model for us.
Our spiritual preparation comes through reading the Bible, engaging in devotionals, and listening to sermons. These practices strengthen our faith and keep us attuned to God’s voice. However, there is a distinct difference between these spiritual disciplines and the moments when God Himself initiates a conversation with us. When God speaks, it is often unexpected, personal, and transformative. Our responsibility is not to force Him to speak but to remain in a posture of readiness—concentrated, trusting, and obedient. Fabricating His voice or expecting Him to speak mechanically not only dishonors Him but also opens the door to deception. False teachings and misguidings often arise when we replace genuine divine communication with our own assumptions or desires.
God’s timing is perfect. He knows when we need His guidance, comfort, or correction. Trying to dictate when or how He should speak to us reflects a lack of trust in His sovereignty. God is not a genie or a ghost who obeys our commands; He is the Almighty Creator who speaks with purpose and authority. When He intervenes in our lives, it is not to boost our pride or satisfy our curiosity but to fulfill His greater plans and deepen our dependence on Him. Fabricating His voice or forcing Him to speak on our terms not only distorts our relationship with Him but also risks leading us astray.
Elijah’s life reminds us that God’s silence does not mean His absence. The intervals between His words are opportunities for us to grow in faith and patience. We must learn to trust that His still, small voice will come at the right moment, often when we need it most. Our part is to stay focused, prepared, and obedient, knowing that He will never fail to speak when it matters. Let us guard against the danger of making His voice mechanical or fabricated, for such practices can lead us away from His truth and into error.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, teach us to wait on You with patience and trust. Help us to resist the urge to demand constant reassurance from You, and instead, prepare our hearts to hear Your voice whenever You choose to speak. Guard us from the danger of fabricating Your voice or forcing You to speak on our terms, for we know that such practices can lead us into misguidings and false teachings. May we find peace in Your timing and confidence in Your sovereignty. Strengthen us through Your Word and keep us ready to obey when You call. We trust that Your voice will guide us at the perfect moment. Amen.