Is that You, God?
In all my years attending Christian Science Sunday School, I had always loved the story of Samuel. When he was a child, he heard a voice calling his name in the night. He thought it was Eli, the priest he was living with, so he got up, went to him, and asked what he wanted. Eli told him he had not called him and to go back to bed. It happened again. Then again. Finally Eli realized that it must be God talking to Samuel, and he told Samuel to respond by saying, “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth” (I Samuel 3:9). Samuel did—and it was, in fact, God.
I thought the words in the Bible were beautiful, but they seemed remote to me. They were not words I would use, and they seemed foreign and from a different time. I wondered, If God ever talked to me, what would He say? And would it be the way He talked in the Bible?
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I wondered, If God ever talked to me, what would He say? And would it be the way He talked in the Bible?
I began listening for God.
My first experience of hearing God came while I was driving to school one morning. I had a very important exam that day—one I was worried about. I had done all the prep work but was tied up in knots about the test. I found myself praying and asking God for help. Just then, I noticed the license plate on the car in front of me. It said, simply, TRUST. I started laughing, and all the worries faded away. I got to school, took the test, and all was well.
I continued to think about the fact that, as Mary Baker Eddy wrote in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, “the intercommunication is always from God to His idea, man” (p. 284). I knew that when I pray, or when I get still and listen for God, answers have come through a feeling of peace or comfort. But I was learning that there are many ways God communicates—including license plates! We just have to pay attention.
Another time, I was in the car again, crying because boyfriend issues were breaking my heart. “God, You have to help me,” I sobbed. I was in too much pain. All of a sudden, a very loud voice said, “Knock it off. You are Mine and all is OK.”
Where had it come from? All the car windows were up. I checked the radio. It was off. That’s when I realized I’d actually heard God speaking to me—out loud! I burst out laughing. In that moment, I truly felt God’s care, love, and presence. So much so that that was the end of all my tears.
A year later I was in my room at home working on college applications. It was really stressful, and I was confused about where to apply and what to do. I turned to God, and this time I heard a voice clearly ask me, “Do you really want My job? Really?”
God talks to us in a way we can understand, no matter what language we speak or what era we live in.
I realized I was trying to use God to ensure that my plans worked out the way I thought I wanted them to rather than asking Him to show me what His path was for me.
Again, I checked for the source of the voice. Windows closed. No radio on. No one else in the house. And again, I laughed. No, I did not want God’s job, and I could see that I didn’t need it. God—infinite intelligence and Love—was directing my path with such care. My only job was to follow.
After that, wonderful opportunities opened up for me, and they were better than anything I could ever have planned.
I was so glad to learn that God has a great sense of humor and talks to us in a way we can understand, no matter what language we speak or what era we live in. All we need to do is listen. Just like Samuel.