Listen for His Whisper

By Paula Williamson guest writer

Ready to Fly

For as long as I can remember, as I slept snuggled into my bedtime covers, dreams rolled through the night of me flying. Not in an airplane, not in a balloon or a helicopter—just me, soaring through the sky.

The earliest ones came when I was about six years old. In those dreams I would run with my arms stretched wide, hoping the wind would lift me up like a kite. It never did. Other dreams had me jumping and flapping my arms with all the strength I could muster—still no flight.

And yet, in my dreams, I kept trying. They were dreams I looked forward to as I slept and dreams that encouraged me to know, there is more in my waking hours. Deep within was always this burning desire in me to be set free to fly.

When I was around twelve, something changed. In the dream, I ran down the sidewalk near my home, flapping like always, and suddenly—my feet lifted off the ground. Only a little, but enough to send a thrill through me. In the dream, I tried to get everyone’s attention, but no one seemed to notice.

The dreams continued for years. And each time, I flew a little higher. By the time I was a teenager, I was flying like the old T.V. series The Flying Nun—soaring over neighborhoods, waving at people far below. Waking up was always disappointing. Flying felt so real in my dreams, so wonderful, so free.

As the years passed, the dreams changed again. I no longer needed to run or flap. I could simply stand still, wiggle a finger, and lift straight into the sky. No effort. No striving. Just rising—carried by a strength that was not my own. Those dreams made my soul feel weightless, powerful, limitless. I even flew under water breathing as easily as if I were in the air. I didn’t think much about them at the time. But God did.

When Life Knocks the Wind Out of You

The truth is, most of my adult life has felt nothing like flying. It has felt like falling, breaking, surviving, and sometimes barely breathing. I have walked through seasons I never wanted to experience—more than twenty family members gone, painful divorces in my family including my own after thirty-three years, trauma, addictions, abuse, mental illness, cancer and chemo, shattered relationships, heroes losing health and heartbreak that took my breath away and battles I never saw coming.I have carried burdens far too heavy for human shoulders. Flying was the last word I’d use to describe my life. Until one morning…when God used a voice on the radio to meet me in the deepest part of my soul.

Walk to the Edge

Making my 45 minute commute to work I listened to the radio. I was listening to Priscilla Evans when she said something that felt like God stepped right into my car and sat beside me: “Many of you are coming to the edge of a cliff in your life, and God is saying: walk up to the edge.” Her words pierced my heart. I knew God was talking to me. But everything inside me screamed back: God, I’ve seen enough pain.I don’t want to go to any new edges.Not today. Not tomorrow.Not EVER—DOUBLE DOG NEVER! Yet in my spirit, I could hear Him: “Paula… walk to the edge.”

I didn’t want to see what was there. I didn’t want to look down. I didn’t want another battle. I didn’t want to fall. But something in me—something deeper than fear—knew I had to obey.

Priscilla’s voice broke through again: “Now do you know what God is going to do once you get there?He’s going to PUSH YOU OFF.And do you know what you’re going to do?You’re going to FLY.” She went on: “You’re going to fall until the powerful wind of the Holy Spirit catches your wings…and you’re going to soar as you have NEVER soared before.” At that exact moment, God brought every childhood dream of flying back to my mind. Dreams I hadn’t thought about in years suddenly made sense.

Flying Was Never Meant to Be Your Effort

As a young Christian, Galatians 5 was a checklist—love, joy, peace, patience…Okay, I failed this one today. I’ll try harder tomorrow. I flapped my arms, spiritually speaking. I ran faster. Tried harder. Strained more. But true flying—true living by the Spirit—was never about my effort. Hard years taught me that I am powerless to save myself, powerless to fix everything, powerless to keep life from shattering around me. I tried every resource, every self-help book, every great author and teacher, and every idea. I came to the edge of despair… and still couldn’t fly. Then I completed Beth Moore’s Living Beyond Yourself. I thought it would teach me practical things to do. Instead it taught me who God is. It wasn’t about me flapping harder. It wasn’t about me generating my own lift. It wasn’t about me being strong enough to soar. It was about surrender. About stepping off the cliff with no ability to fly at all…and trusting the Holy Spirit to carry me.

The Place We Learn to Fly

Oh, dear one—are you tired today? Worn?Frustrated? Trying as hard as you can and still falling short? Maybe you, too, are standing at the edge of a cliff in your life. Maybe God is whispering the same thing to you: Walk to the edge.Let go.Fall into My arms.Trust Me to carry you. The safest place you will ever fall is into the everlasting arms of God. What an incredible place to land. What an incredible place to rest. What an incredible place to learn…to fly.

Psalm 91:4 (KJV)He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust…

Isaiah 40:30–31 (KJV)…they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;they shall mount up with wings as eagles…

Closing Prayer:

Lord of Heaven and Earth,You are my refuge. You are the wind beneath my wings. Teach me to trust You so deeply that I stop striving in my own strengthand rest in Yours. Bring me to that Sabbath rest where I cease from my own efforts and let You be enough. Carry me. Lift me. Help me fly. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Devotional Takeaway:

God holds the prescription glasses that help you see heaven’s perspective.

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This blog was taken from my book, Listen for His Whisper, a free download.