The Whispers of God

“No, it’s too early.” The sound of my own voice woke me. I turned in my covers to go back to sleep, but in my mind I heard a message being replayed—the one I heard before waking.

“Go to the beach.”

I pulled the covers closer to my chin, “No, it’s too cold—why?” I mumbled to no one in the room.

“Go and see the sunrise,” a voice broke into my dreamy thoughts.

My eyes were wide awake even though my body was not. I starred at the ceiling and thought about what had just occurred. “I really don’t want to go to the beach . . . I really, really don’t want to go–well, I may as well go now that I’m awake and can’t possibly go back to sleep,” I thought to myself.

At that time in our lives we were living about a mile from Carmel Beach, California—another story on that later. And, although the beach was only a mile away, it was just too chilly for any consideration of jogging or walking. Driving down the touristy Ocean Avenue before sunrise the only people I saw were in delivery trucks or coffee fanatics hurrying to the Carmel Roasting House—I was wishing I was among them.

Turning into the parking lot I faced the van toward the ocean so I could view the sunrise without getting out in the damp air. No one walked the sandy beaches or surfed. Sitting in my car thinking. . . my mind began to drift…wondering if my son, Kevin, was surfing and then my thoughts turned to the different family visits on this beach.

Somewhere deep in thought or half asleep, I realized the sun was up and I had missed the sunrise. I began questioning myself thinking back on the early morning words spoken to my sleepy head. And I prayed, “Lord, was that You this morning? . . . I sure don’t get it . . . I sure feel stupid . . .,” my words echoed in my empty car as I sensed an irritable mood moving in.

Later in the day when returning home from running errands I saw the most spectacular sunset on the Monterey coastline I’ve ever seen in my life—I immediately felt incredibly silly. I’ve lived in California all my life and I should have remembered in the wee hours of the morning that the sun does not rise on the west coast beaches—it sets! I had a good laugh at myself, but I sensed the Lord would be teaching me from this.

Several months passed and this event was forgotten when Dan and I decided to celebrate our wedding anniversary on Catalina Island. This island is just off the coast of Southern California. We rose before the sun in a room facing Avalon Beach. While Dan showered, I read my Bible in a window located a few stories up with an eastern view of the bay. While reading I heard that amazing voice in my heart once more.

“Look up and see the sunrise—look up and see the sunrise on the Pacific.”

To my amazement I saw the sun begin to rise up from the East over the Pacific Ocean. A teaching from the Lord occurred in my heart, it wasn’t in words or sentences—I just understood. There are things in our lives the Lord has told us, either in the Word with prophecy or in our hearts, which have not happened—yet. And, just like me looking in the wrong direction for the sun to rise—don’t be anxious or overly concerned about it—just be found faithful where you are now.

He will cause it to happen in your life. It’s important that we be found faithful. If I hadn’t risen that morning I would not have appreciated the amazing sunrise on Catalina Island. What God promises He will fulfill in His time–and in His manner. He is the author of dreams. If your dream is His—He will bring it to pass and the Son will rise and be glorified in your life as you look up to see Him perform those things in your life.

Be like Joseph and dream, dream what God stirs in your heart and wait to see Him perform it.

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37:4-7a, NIV)

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984