YES

"Tell me of a time in your life that God as spoken to you and What does it look like when He does?" that was a question someone asked me this week.
If we follow Jesus it would stand to reason he might speak to us...right? We pray and expect him to speak. Searching desperately for answers (a.k.a the quick fixes) to our queries we look, wait, wonder speculate...we do lots of things to get him to give definate answers, lead us, and devinely respond. Usually though, don't we really just want him to justify/condone our actions, desires...sin?
It dawned on me over the last few years that silence can be an answer. Seeing as God always responds with "Yes, No and Wait".
Nothing usually means "wait". For me it almost always means "hold on-patience".
Ever ask God for something then just assume a positive answer and move on? Did he really affirm my request? Did that thing you then decided to do ever just stop, fall apart, cause you heartache, pain...trouble? I find those to be "NO"s mistaken for "Yes"s
But what about "Yes". Not maybe, sorta, kinda, wait, or later but "YES!" What does that look like? What does confirmation to prayer look like?

Often its Suffering...Sacrifice...Pain...

I understand why we assume so much with God. I know why we move on without clear direction so often, why we press forward without waiting. Cause to get a "YES" from God is Hard. You see yes always involves HIS glory and thats in direct conflict with our own will more often than not.

"Yes" means his way not mine. "Yes" means "I am allowing you or asking you to do something that might benefit you , but always glorifies Me." (God speaking)

We don't often think before we pray. At least in the past I have had a bad habit of not thinking too much. If i knew what was really required of me in the outcome of these prayers, if i knew i would have to wait impatiently, if i knew i would have to sacrifice and suffer...i might rethink my requests.

Following Jesus aint easy. Hearing his voice and responding is a call to live life as it was intended and then die. To die right were you stand everyday, all your life. To ask, wait and suffer. It's not glamorous, but it's glorious.

I think the most comforting thing about it is that He knows. He relates. Our God is a god who knows. Knows what is required in the "Yes". He knew what making man would loose-sin. He knew what redeeming man would cost-the death of his son. He knows what you will endure in following him-he did it too. And that is good. That is God. It's also good to know he only gives us what we can handle. No more. No less.

I heard from God last week and it hurt. I had been crying out. I had been asking for answers. I had waited and waited and he spoke. And it hurt...deeply And it is good. It will require much but he is God.

Can you hear him? Are you waiting? Are you willing? Do you really want to know...YES!