Move Closer

Not long ago, I heard a story about a young man and an old preacher. The young man had lost his job and didn't know which way to turn. So he went to see the preacher.

Pacing about the preacher's study, the young man ranted about his problem. Finally, he clenched his fist and shouted, "I've begged God to say something to help me, preacher. Why doesn't God answer?"

The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply, something so hushed it was indistinguishable. The young man stepped across the room. "What did you say?" he asked. The preacher repeated himself, but again in a tone as soft as a whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on he preacher's chair.

"Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear you." With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. "God sometimes whispers," he said, "so we will move closer to him." This time the young man heard and he understood.

We will want God's voice to thunder through the air with the answer to our problem. But God's is the still, small voice....the gentle whisper. Perhaps there is a reason. Nothing draws human focus quite like a whisper. God's whisper means I must stop my ranting and move closer to Him, until my head is bent together with His. And then, as I listen, I will find my answer. Better still, I FIND MYSELF CLOSER TO GOD!

James 4:7-10 (humility cures worldliness) ⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.