Have you ever wished that God would speak to you in a burning bush like Moses? Whisper your name in the night like Samuel? Or hoped God would speak as a booming voice from the heavens? 

There have been many times in my life, when I have prayed, waited, listened and hoped for an answer that would show me the direction God wanted me to go. I wanted a burning bush, a miracle, or a proclamation from on high that would get my attention and say, “Go this way.” “Try this.” But I will tell you a secret. Even as a pastor, I have never heard the booming voice from heaven directing my path. You might hear experts say, "listen better", "learn how to pray", "read your Bible more". But what happens when you try all those things and you still don’t hear God’s voice?

Yesterday I was driving in one of Arizona’s monsoon rain storms when I looked up and saw the rain pouring down from the heavens just as you would expect, but the rain was cupped by a rainbow. It was as if the storm was being held at bay by the very promise God gives us that says, I will never let the trials, challenges or mistakes of your life overshadow the love I have for you. 

I wonder if in our hard work of listening to hear God’s still, small voice speak to us (or the loud booming one we always wish for), we forget the voice of promise that never leaves us — "I love you and I will be with you always."

Listening to God requires patience, practice, time and faithfulness, but more importantly listening requires recognizing the promise that is being spoken from the heavens all the time. 

A rainbow isn’t a voice from the heavens nor a burning bush, but you can see it from thousands of miles away. What other ways is God speaking His promises to you without realizing it?