Hearing God’s Voice Through an Unexpected Act of Obedience
Let me tell you about one of the first times God’s voice broke into my silent world.
I was thirteen years old and my family had recently moved from West Virginia to South Carolina. Several times, we attended a huge church where my mom was my only interpreter. One Sunday morning, an unassuming gentleman made the bold move to approach us right in the middle of the sermon. The man planted a mini floor lamp in front of us, grabbed a chair, and began interpreting. This guy was fluent.
My mom and I were flabbergasted. I could barely process what had just happened. I mean, who carries a floor lamp? Perhaps he had seen us once before and brought it from home? Or maybe he’d found it in the church somewhere? Where did his chair come from? I had so many questions, including, Who is this guy?
Though it took me a moment to process what was going on, something began to stir inside me: spiritual joy! Was it because I felt included and was finally not being overlooked? Or was it simply the man’s kindness that moved me? It was clear to me that he had obeyed a prompting from God because only He knew our need. And this man’s obedience brought the joy because he was my answered prayer. He walked in bold obedience, making a way for me to be spiritually fed and allowing my mom to rest and receive as well. The reality is that if you’re an interpreter, it is work to deliver the message. It can be spiritually draining, not to mention physically, what with our necks straining during the entire sermon because of sitting next to each other.
Looking back, I believe the feeling was God’s divine presence.
The Power of Christian Obedience and Spiritual Joy
We should never underestimate the power of obedience. Luke 11:28 says, “Blessed . . . are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Obedience and joy go hand in hand. The man’s obedience to the Lord to use his skills to interpret for me allowed me to know God. I will forever be grateful for him. I don’t know how my life would’ve turned out without his bold actions.
After church, the man introduced himself to us, and, wouldn’t you know it, his name was Guy. We learned that Guy was a professional ASL interpreter. To show appreciation for his service, my mom invited him and his wife over to our house for dinner the following evening.
They came, and I vividly remember Guy sitting across from me at our table. His presence as a believer seemed to usher God’s Spirit into that space, and I sensed that something meaningful was about to occur.
Sharing the Gospel Through Faith and Obedience
By the time we finished dinner, it was dark outside, but everything felt so lit up. Guy’s obedience to be a messenger of the good news shone brightly. The Holy Spirit was like a fire that was lit inside me because of the spark of this fellow Christian. Guy told me about Jesus Christ and the gospel. He shared with me the ABCs of Salvation:
- Accept Jesus into your heart.
- Believe that He died on the cross for your sins.
- Confess your sins and receive God’s forgiveness.
You might’ve seen or heard the first step defined instead as “Admit you are a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness.” Isn’t that the truth! But how incredible that the word Guy gave me so many years ago for A is the same word God gave Jenny. Accept Him. (But don’t worry, I admitted I was a sinner in need of forgiveness by the time we got to C!)
How Listening to God’s Voice Can Transform a Life
That night, I accepted Christ right at that dining room table. Two incredible things happened. First, I had a split-second vision of a very large angel in the corner of the room. He shone brightly and was so big that he was partially standing in the living room. It was an open space with high ceilings, so I saw the angel’s legs with golden sandals on his feet and the tips of sparkling wings. The bottom of his kneecaps disappeared right above the ceiling. I had a vision before I even knew what a vision was.
Second, I recognized how hungry and thirsty I was for God’s love. I was so lost in the experience that what felt like a ten-minute conversation went on for two hours! I can’t remember everything Guy said, but through his example, he taught me that it’s a gift to have that kind of obedience—to follow the Shepherd that closely. He listened to God’s voice and acted upon it, and the fruit of his obedience fed my soul.
Following God’s Call to Share His Love With Others
I want to be that kind of believer: the kind that listens to God’s voice and tells others about Him. I don’t want to think of what my life would be like if that man hadn’t pulled up a chair that morning at church. He was Christ’s ambassador to me that day, sharing the words of life with a soul desperate for God’s love. Even today, less than 2 percent of the Deaf population around the world knows Jesus, which breaks my heart.* However, my Deafness didn’t stop the God who leaves the ninety-nine from breaking in and finding one lost sheep (see Luke 15:3–7).
And He did it through a guy named Guy.
* Rob Myers, “The Deaf Are an Unreached People,” GACX, www.gacx.io/articles/deaf- unreached-people
