Listen to His Whisper

By Paula Williamson, Guest Writer

Chosen

Long before I ever knew who God was, I somehow knew He was there. I can’t explain how or why—I was just a child—but I always sensed that Someone greater than me was watching over my life.

Back then, I was timid and insecure. I still remember standing in elementary school gym class while two teams were picked for sports and every time, I was the last one left. When the final team reluctantly got stuck with me, they would groan in unison and chant, “Oh no… we’re going to lose.” Rejection became familiar. Being unseen felt normal.

Then one summer, when I was twelve years old, everything changed. I was invited to spend a week with my cousin in Dill City, Oklahoma. It was the first time I’d ever been away from home, and I wanted to go more than anything. That night, I looked up into the dark Texas sky and saw a single bright star staring back at me. I whispered that old childhood prayer:

“I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight.” With all the hope I had, I wished my parents would let me go. I had no idea then that God would answer far more than the prayer I prayed.

Most of that week, my cousin and I sat on the shaded back porch, surrounded by fabric scraps, scissors, needles, and thread, happily designing tiny Barbie clothes. It was in the middle of one ordinary afternoon that eternity interrupted my childhood. My older cousin suddenly asked me,“Are you going to Heaven?” The moment froze. That simple question landed on my heart like a judge’s gavel. I had never really thought about it before. I searched my memory for answers—Vacation Bible School lessons, an old science experiment with ivory soap and black pepper symbolizing sin being washed away. Then my mind raced through everything I had ever done wrong… and my mother’s voice reminding me of it all. That was all the spiritual knowledge I had. She kept asking. Again and again. And finally, I broke. Tears spilled out before words ever could. I didn’t know the answer—yet somehow, deep down, I think I did.

My aunt rushed in, thinking I’d been hurt. I was crying too hard to explain anything. Unsure what else to do, she called her pastor and that Tuesday afternoon, they took me to his office.

The pastor sat with me and patiently walked me through stories of the Bible—from creation to the cross—until he reached Revelation 3:20:

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.”

In that quiet church that afternoon, I realized something life-altering: The great God of the universe had visited a shaded porch in Dill City, Oklahoma… and knocked on the door of my heart. Why He would leave Heaven to reach down to a timid, rejected twelve-year-old girl is still a mystery that fills my eyes with tears—but He did. He chose me.

The angels didn’t groan when Heaven claimed me. They rejoiced. And into my fragile little heart rushed a love and acceptance I had never known before. For the first time in my life, I felt whole.

The very next Wednesday, when I sat in church and listened to the hymns, prayers, and preaching, everything sounded different. The words came alive. The songs made sense. I knew that the Savior of the world had taken up residence inside me and had washed me from the inside out.

Since that day, my ordinary life has been filled with extraordinary interruptions—moments when His whisper breaks into my routine. Looking back, I now see that these moments are my story. No one else can tell them the way I can. They are living proof that my Savior lives.

He is active. He is present. He is faithful. And the more I listen and obey, the more clearly I see it:He truly does leave the ninety-nine to go after the one. No one is beyond His reach. No failure too final. No soul too insignificant. How I love Him. How I thank Him.

God made a way—through His Son, Jesus Christ—for every single one of us to be reconciled to Him. None of us are perfect. None of us could ever earn our way into His presence. That is why Jesus came.

As He said in John 14:6,

“I am the way.”

At twelve years old, I realized one day my life would end. And when that day comes, I knew exactly where I wanted to go. I just needed Someone to make the way for me.

Jesus did that.

A Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me to remember in a world full of rejection that no one is beyond being chosen by You. You are a good and compassionate in every way. Everything good comes from You. We are not exempt from the cruelty and ugliness of this world, but we can be certain that we are welcome and safe in our presence. You turn no one away. Thank You.

Devotional Takeaway:

He is as close as a prayer and we are all welcome in His presence.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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

Chosen