Looking For A Sign From God

Signs from God

In desperate times we turn to God. Unless we have been damaged by the church or someone in the church, when we hurt deeply we naturally cry out to God. Even if we don't know Him, we call to Him. Since we don't understand, we ask for a sign.

We believe in signs or we would not ask for them. We ask because we want to know what is the right thing to do. But do we really? If we are wanting to do what is right in the sight of God would we not already be obeying everything we knew up to this point in time that He wanted us to do? When we didn't wouldn't we fall before Him repenting and asking Him for an opportunity to do things right?

When is the last time I have repented? What about you?

Repented, an archaic word... what does it have to do with "a sign from God"?

Testimony

I am not alone, but I distinctly have a time in my life that I begged God for a sign. Not just once but over and over. Returning to the same place, day after day, pleading, crying, praying, hoping upon the smallest amount of faith in God that He would answer.

"God, please just let a bird sit on the window ledge... and then I will know."

In those days, when I was a teenager, I didn't know the Bible very well. I had heard it read aloud, and read it myself a few times, particularly one time when I was reading through the Book of Luke in the 8th grade for some Bible challenge contest. 

I was remarking to my dear husband recently how it is amazing to me that you can be in church Sunday after Sunday and only hear a small amount of Bible. Pastors have their favorite Bible stories to tell; the ones the get the message across, the ones that stir the crowd. The Church repeats significant passages of the Bible over and over, often depending on the season.

But is this all we need to know? Why are there so many other passages in the Bible that never gets talked about?

Some verses are common to people who are not even Christians because they are frequently quoted and found on wall hangings or comforting personal items. 

When I prayed for a sign, I had a very big ---literally a life or death---situation and needed to know what God wanted me to do. I wanted to be making the right decision---I was quite aware how important His response was.

I wanted to literally hear, but since I didn't have a teaching of that kind of a relationship (matter of fact, as a Catholic High School student I was never introduced to a personal God that would have time to speak to a insignificant person like myself). I figured He might have time to toss a sign my way. "This meant Yes and That meant No." Surely He had time for a little sign... I thought.

If God is real

Have you ever dared to trust that God would speak, do or answer a request? Does God see? Does He hear? Does He care? 

If I knew the Bible I would know the answers to all of these. But that is the problem with not knowing the Bible... we have to wonder. Even doubt.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

I did not know because I did not hear and read enough of the Word of God. The more of the Word I learned later in life, the more I knew God and the more I knew His will, the less I had need of signs. 

I smile now and then when something happens which is significant to me spiritually... a deer or two appear in my backyard after a breakthrough... and my heart recalls:

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. (Psalm 42:1).

I sense God is near, comforting me.

Or a bright, clear night starry sky calls out to me to pause, reflecting on God.

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ... When theysaw the star, they were filled with joy!  (Matthew 2:10)

As I mature, I understand that signs like I pleaded for as a young lady are for people who do not read the Bible with understanding; people who don't know God.

Yet, we all know Him through a partial lens of clarity.

We can be helped by friends who know Him to help us when our clarity ---often when we are too close to see clearly-- hinders our ability to be certain of what we must do. A friend that knows God's Word is the best kind of friend, in our times of need, when we are apt to look to God for signs, when we are wanting to know what decision would be most pleasing for God and then to give us encouragement to take the next step - to obey.

Blessings to you, Seek God and His Word, when you need a sign.

Lindy