The wrong voice

There is a story about a man whose son was very ill. He was possessed by evil spirits. The spirits have tried numerous times to kill the boy. They have thrown him in fire, off a cliff, even tried drowning him. The poor father wanted to save the boy and took him to every doctor he could find in the land. No one could help him, and other townspeople wanted the boy killed due to the danger he presented. Desperate to save his young son's life, he heard of a man healing others. He found the healer walking through the town one day and ran up to him pleading, and explaining his son's condition. He cried, "If you can, please save my son." The healer said , "what do you mean IF I CAN? Anything is possible if you just believe!" Well the father, surely stunned, but left with no other hope for his son replied, "I BELIEVE, please help me with my unbelief!" Jesus then rebuked the unclean spirit and it came out of the boy, who was saved from his terror. (Mark9:23)

I feel like that father at times. I believe. I believe God has the power to make anything happen, but sometimes, I question whether he WILL. FOR ME. Or even how he will.

Satan loves when we do this. When we show just the sliver of unbelief, it opens the door wide for him to shout. He shouts all right.

Lies. Discouragement. Revenge.

Meanwhile, God whispers.

Truth, Encouragement, Peace.

Satan shouts, "“Your broke, look at your bank balance, NOW what are you’ve really done it?
God Whispers, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not reap or stow away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?Matt 6:26

Satan shouts, "They don’t care about you, look how they treat you. You deserve better"
God whispers, "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them was forgotten by God. Indeed the very hairs of your head are numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7

Satan shouts, "You better get them back for what they have done."
God whispers, "I am just: I will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled"

Satan shouts "See what trying to be good gets you? Some Christian you are…you are never going to change"
God whispers "Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong, for like grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away Psalm 37:1-2 and I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" Ezek 36:26

Satan shouts "Your life is so screwed up –how you ever going to help others when you can't even help yourself stay on track?
God whispers "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:5-6

I was wounded emotionally pretty badly on Wednesday. I responded by lashing back. Acting childish. Reaching and searching for someway to justify myself. I was listening to the shouts. Yesterday while I was on the brink of despair, God spoke through some wise and loving people in His whispers.

Now I am shouting "I believe! Please help me with my unbelief!" And I am feeling better already.

Don't listen to the shouts. It's so much easier, but really doesn't get you anywhere. Take a moment. Don't respond just yet. Listen hard for the whispers.