In the valley of competing voices

​Yesterday, I shared these words from Steven Furtick:

"You might be walking through a valley between two voices. One is wisdom, one is worry. One is gratitude, one is grumbling. One is blame, one is faith. One is telling you you’re going to make it. One is trying to convince you that you won’t. The one you listen to matters."

I spent time hiking with the boys yesterday. And in quiet moments on the trail - as much quiet as there can be hiking with boys - I reflected on those words. I came away believing the most dominant competing voices in my life are the voices of me and of God.

For as long as I can remember, I've heard the quiet voice of God in my life saying, 'follow me.'

And for as long as I can remember, I've had a much louder voice in my life saying, you don't need God - only YOU know what's best for YOU.

That is the voice of me.

The one problem with God's voice - it's quiet. God doesn't rely on volume, he's all in on persistence. He's the quiet voice that shows up first thing in the morning pointing me to hope. His is the last voice to tell me good night - to tell me no matter what I think I am or I am not at the end of that day, he still loves me.

He is still showing up.

I haven't always been good with quiet voices. I've tended to gravitate to volume. I've often heard clearest the loudest voices in my life.

The voices telling me I'm not good enough to follow God.
The voices telling me I'm too broken to ever be whole.
The voices telling me the people around me don't accept me - why would God.
The voices telling me I'm never going to be forgiven. I'm never going to be without guilt.
The voices telling me the next step is going to be as ugly as the last.

These days, I'm much better at shutting down those voices in my life. I think that's because every time I get quiet enough to listen to God's voice, I hear 'you already are.'

You already are good enough and whole and accepted and forgiven. You already are taking that next step - and I am with you.

You already are following me, he says - it may not be pretty, but you are following.

I think the secret to hearing the right voice in the valley of competing voices is all about volume. Sometimes we have to be willing to let the quietest voice win.

When we do, our voice gets louder than ever. And miraculously, it starts to sound a lot like God's voice.