One evening at Training Camp (TC), we had a session on Listening Prayer. After our Squad leader shared the main principles and some of her experiences, it was our turn.
She told us to pray and see what God revealed to us. I prayed. Nothing. Then I got, “Not yet.” I was ticked but not surprised. “Of course not,” I thought, “why would you?” I figured I was so used to the silence, my mind answered my own question. Some people shared what God had spoken to them during their prayers. I was jaded and skeptic.
Next, half of our squad lined up shoulder to shoulder with their eyes closed. Then the other half of the squad walked up to someone in the line and put our hand on his or her shoulder. The people whose eyes were closed would then share what God revealed to them as they prayed for the person touching them. They had no idea whose hand was on their shoulder.
I walked up to a woman in my squad with whom I’d never even had a conversation up to that point. I expected generic platitudes and blessings. Not what I got.
“Leader. God has called you to be a leader and He wants you to be confident in that.”
My heart stopped and then started to pound. Lots of people are leaders; this isn’t necessarily God… But this has been in every job description I’ve held in the past eight years. Why would she specifically say to be confident? I have always doubted my ability to lead and struggled with what that will mean outside of the military. How could she know? Is this really happening?
After a few minutes, the group shared and then we switched positions. Again, we didn’t know who would lay their hand on us as we prayed. I prayed that God would use me, that He would speak to someone through me the way He had spoken to me through my squadmate. I wanted to know that He could and would use me. I began to pray not having any idea what to say. Then I said Jeremiah 29:11, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Even as I said it, I didn’t know why. I thought I was totally failing this person standing in front of me.
Then I opened my eyes and saw my squadmate with tears streaming down her face. I had never spoken to her before. She told me Jeremiah 29:11 was the verse she had been praying over and over for months preparing for the Race and had even gotten it tattooed on her leg!
God spoke to me and He spoke through me, just as He did so many of my squadmates that night. God still speaks. He has perfect timing. He uses silence for His purpose, whether to get our attention or make us crave more of Him or just simply waiting on us to be ready to be obedient. He speaks if and when we are willing to listen.
God still speaks.
