I had lunch with someone recently and we talked about our relationship with God and when it was that we knew that we had been called to greater things. We both said the same thing, that ‘somehow’ we had known our entire lives that this day would eventually come.

I can remember being about 8 years old reading the bible and praying. I’ve done that my entire life, sometimes there were breaks here and there but I don’t ever recall not having my bible at my bedside or saying a few prayers silently to myself, conversing with God when I needed guidance etc.

Four years ago, after my marriage of 13 years failed and ended in divorce, I heard God speak for the first time in my life. This was different from the many conversations that I’d had with him over the years – it was His actual voice speaking. No, it wasn’t some wizard of Oz voice or thunderous speech.

It was seven simple words. They weren’t my own words either, I am sure of that. Another thing I am sure of is its an overwhelming experience – there truly aren’t words to describe what it feels like when you hear God’s voice.

At the time those words didn’t make sense to me, but 4 years later they have a new context and meaning that is starting to become much clearer. That’s just how God works, his timeline and vision in our lives isn’t constrained by our understanding of time or our present circumstances. Those words were clearly meant for me later on down the road, in a much different season of my life.

What he said was, “Have complete faith. This is for real.”

Given the incredible circumstances in my life since then and as I write this blog, I had no idea how right He would be with those words.