Quiet Voice
- Loud Message

by Tim Knappenberger

In his story, Peretti describes the fictitious, yet easily believable dialogue that occurs between the hearts of men and women and the lips of demons and angels. Negative thoughts we often chalk up as being our own, Peretti’s book suggests might just as well be demonic suggestions, accusations, and harassings. "You’re going to die! Believe what you want about God, but you’re still gonna die!" "You know how worthless you really are?! Your mother was right; you were a mistake!" "That’s right, go ahead a cheat a little. Lord knows you’ve got to play by the world’s rules if you want to avoid being rolled over by it." Little, slimy, grotesque, leathery-skinned, winged creatures continually screaming lies and accusations into our hearts and minds. Meanwhile, God’s powerful messengers of light and love, His angels, are depicted as continually countering this "Satanic static" with truth, peace, and hope. "Sure you’re going to die - once. But you also know that because of Christ’s death you shall live even though you die." "Worthless? Would God Himself take on human flesh and go to a cross for something, for someone He considered worthless?!" "Lord knows the world does bend the rules, but Lord also knows His rules are meant to ‘prosper you and not to harm you; to give you hope and a future’."

The most intriguing aspect of the book is how it pulls back the veil separating us from spiritual realms and suggests that what we live and experience in the known, seen world has broader and more profound implications than what we’re usually aware of. Most often, these profound spiritual workings are manifested in the little events of our lives; the seemingly insignificant things. Again, as a believer himself, Peretti would probably be the first to caution that his writings are fictional and are based on the imaginings of his mind. Yet nothing that he writes about is contrary to Scripture nor to the Truth of God’s Gospel. Furthermore, I’m not so sure but what God Himself, through some level of spiritual revelation, aided Mr. Peretti in his writing by giving him a glimpse of things normally unseen.

I offer all of this as a means of explaining why what happened to me this morning meant so much. I took some extra vacation days over the 4^th of July weekend and spent this morning, the last day of my mini-vacation weekend, reading scripture, meditating, and praying for an extended period of time. I had the backyard deck all to myself, the quietness of a beautiful morning, and the time to just sit and commune with God. Part of my prayer time dealt with my current strugglings over what God wants me to do for him with my life. Life has seemed lacking in focus and direction for me of late. Struggles and frustrations at home and at work have left me wondering where, if anywhere, God is taking me. Nevertheless, today was a time of sweet communion and peaceful dialogue between the Lord and me.

After a couple of hours of this wonderful time, I went inside to begin various tasks I wanted to get done. However, before I could begin, a thought popped into my head; "Lord, you know how much I miss teaching part-time at Malone College. If you’ve gifted me to do as good a job as I do teaching and if I enjoy it so much, why haven’t they called for over a year?" Now I must preface that that prayer has gone through my mind numerous times during the last year. To date, it’s answer has always seemed to go begging. Today, was different. No sooner did the question run through my mind than this thought followed it: "Call Jeff Polet." Jeff, who I knew only casually, had recently became the new chairperson of the Social Science department. I had only planned on letting him know I was still interested in teaching part-time, to welcome him in his new position and leave it at that. I replied to the prompting: "I’d rather just write him a note tomorrow once I’m back at my office. I don’t want to put him on the spot and make it sound as if I’m asking him for an answer right now." The prompting returned; gently, but stronger: "Call Jeff Polet, now!" Angelic dialogue? I wasn’t sure, but I dialed.

On my first attempt, the operator connected me with the wrong office. "Okay, one more time. I just hope I get his voice mail so I can let him know my interest and be done with it." On the second attempt I heard the phone ring change rhythm telling me the computer was forwarding the call to voice mail. "Good." However instead of hearing his pre-recorded message, I heard Hello. Hello? "Um, hello. Is this Jeff?" I reintroduced myself to Jeff and explained that I just wanted him to be aware that should he ever need a contract instructor in the future, I would be interested to talk with him sometime. "There! Done." As I was trying to quickly end the conversion and leave him alone, he responded, "You know Tim, it’s really funny you should be calling me now. I’m preparing the Fall schedule and looking for help in teaching ‘Introduction to the Social Sciences’. Would you be available this Fall?" The rest of the discussion was spent going over the particulars.

When I hung up I felt as if I had just walked off of one of the pages of Frank Peretti’s novel; exhilarated, dumbfounded, humble, grateful, visited. Holy Spirit promptings? Given the timing, the intensity of the leading felt prior to the call, and the eventual outcome, you would be hard pressed to convince me otherwise. Scripture implores that we should "pray without ceasing." Our blunted, dimmed awareness of spiritual happenings around us does not make them any less real nor influential. Sadly, our all-too-often hectic and harried lives drown out the angelic whispers sent to guide us. Sometimes, however, when we mange to quiet our spirits and allow God the opportunity to speak to them, He does. There is, however, something even more miraculous than God speaking to us. It’s when we listen to Him.

"See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.

(Exodus 23:20 NIV)

((Heb 1:14 - NIV)