Have you ever lost your voice?
Sometimes, when we are sick, a virus causes all kinds of symptoms, including loss of voice. This has happened to me on more than one occasion. Recently, I had a virus that caused me to lose my voice for about a week. I could only whisper. I’m sure that my husband enjoyed the brief period of silence. It was frustrating at times when I needed or wanted to say something or to be heard, and I could not. At the same time, there was a certain peace in the silence and waiting. There is something to be said for pausing before you speak. In the long run, whatever seemed so pressing to say at the time may have done more good unsaid. In the past, I lost my voice for about three months. Perhaps I didn’t quite learn what the Lord was trying to teach me then. It is true that you learn the value of what you have when it is no longer yours.
It is true that you learn the value of what you have when it is no longer yours.
Losing Your Spiritual Voice
As I was going through the loss of my voice this last time, I began to reflect on not only the reality of my physical loss, but also the possibility of spiritual loss. There are times we lose our spiritual voice because of sin or suffering. We may have physical or emotional suffering that causes us to go into a state of silence and pain. We are hurt. We lay down, and we feel that there is no reason to get up or even speak. But I want you to know, friend, that it is especially important in these times, to speak. Speak the wonderful name of Jesus, the name above all names, the only name that can heal and restore. If the pain is too great to move your lips, then move your heart. Move your heart and your will to Jesus. Crawl into His loving arms. Tell Him what hurts. Tell Him what you need. Let Him fill you and sustain you and give you back your voice. He will speak His Life and His Presence into you and over you with love.
"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."
-Zephaniah 3:17
Sometimes we lose our voice because of sin. We allow sin to enter our lives and let it dwell there. Child of God, you are God’s dwelling place. Sin has no home in you. Cast it out! All you need is just enough voice to speak the name of Jesus. Cling to His promises, find yourself in His Word, back in His presence, abiding in His Truth, and worshipping His Great Name!
I lost my voice. It took a long time to get it back. Because once you allow the devil to have some of you, he won’t stop trying to take all of you.
You have to remember your identity, friend. You have to remember who you are and Whose you are. You are forgiven. You are free. You are God’s. You have all of the power in you, in Christ, that you need to get your voice back. Your sin may have caused you to lose what you thought was your testimony, but I am here to tell you that you don’t determine your testimony. God does. And when He brings you through this, your voice will be the voice that can bring many back to the love and restoration of the Father.
When you repent and turn back to God, He is faithful, oh so faithful, to love and to forgive and to restore. He will restore you, not only to your former condition, but better…more… God will fill you and set you apart, once again, for His service and for His glory. And when He does, do not allow the enemy to try to silence you. You will struggle with what others have put on you. Shake it off. Kick the dust off your heals and walk on for Jesus. What they think of you, what they have called you, who they say you are doesn’t matter. Don’t listen to them. They do not have the mind of Christ. His thoughts are for you, not against you.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
-Jeremiah 29:11
So, in your current state…whatever the reason…if you feel you are struggling and have lost your voice…know this…
Jesus loves you. He wants to recapture your heart and call you His own. He wants to love you fully and completely so that you find your fulfillment in Him. He wants to restore your purpose and your voice. What has been lost, He still wants to give. He loves you with an everlasting love, and His covenant and promises are true. He will never leave you nor forsake you. And He will love you to surrender, if you let Him.
Lord, I pray that all who read this will realize that the only voice worth having is the one filled with Your Spirit, Your Truth, and Your Love.
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