Does God Still Talk To Us?
By Tim McAlpin
People want to know does God still talk to us? Or how can they hear from God? I believe that God still talks to us and it’s us who have forgotten how to listen, not that God has stopped talking.
Two months before my 27 year old son was shot and killed God stopped me at a stop light, and out of the blue asked me if I could recall a time when he was not with me? This was not an audible voice, but clear in my heart. Tears rolled down my face because I sensed God’s presence so strongly. “No” I replied to God, I could never recall a time in my life when God was not there for me, although I have known struggle and pain. And I went into my office and told my son and Drew what I had just experienced.
New Years eve 2008 my son, Jay, and I visited for the last time here on earth. It was 3:00PM and we let out employees go home early. We thanked God for a good year in business and spoke of what we thought Heaven would be like. I said that one day we would sit on a high hill in heaven and be reminded of this day. Twelve hours later to the minute Jay was crossing over from this life to the next. He had worked with me for ten years and is my very best friend. I was grief stricken and in shock.
A couple months later I was seeing a grief counselor on a sunny pretty day. I hated that. I have always been upbeat with strong optimism. I didn’t want my life to be reduced to depression and grief. I remember thinking that I didn’t want to get on a treadmill of counselors and focus on my loss. I knew I had to reach deep if I were to make it through. I got up and left in the middle of that counseling session. I drove to my farm to sit with my horses.
As I sat out in the beautiful sun soaked day in deep dark grief I felt that wonderful presence come to my side again, God. This time he said, again, in my heart, “Tim-notice my trees. Notice my blue sky-you’re only here for a few minutes.” Surprised by this, I felt my deep grief began to lift as I sat there, and in the blink of an eye, it seemed I began to understand the brevity of this present life here. It was as if God imparted to me an understanding of this current time frame and I felt so much better about Jay being in heaven and knowing that I’d see him real soon.
A few days later I was cleaning out the house where Jay’s shooting occurred. I had sold the property and was sweeping it clean. As I was driving off for the last time from the property where I had raised my kids, I noticed a piece of paper in the driveway. I stopped my car and went over to pick it up. It was an old card from like the 1950’s or 1960’s as you could tell from the patina of the paper. It had a beautiful cross on it and it read: “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9.
I felt as though that card was hand delivered to me at that moment and it brought me great peace.
A few months later it was fall of 2009. I was at my new house and the leaves were falling and it was a windy day. The leaves were blowing everywhere and I stopped to take in this surreal scenery. I noticed from the corner of my eye a black tag blowing across the yard at a fast speed in the wind. It stopped at my feet. I bent down to pick it up and held it in my hand and it read: “ The World’s Greatest Dad.” I felt that Jay had directed it to me. I felt it could be no coincidence. It brought me peace.
I believe that God, the creator of the universe has gone out of His way for me during this time of loss and pain. I don’t know how I would have made it without all these experiences I have to look back on and hold on to. I believe God has spoken to me and personally assisted me back to a path of peace and faith. I will forever be grateful to God for this. I believe He does this for us all. Keep your eyes [and ears] open.In the book we talk about God being like a radio station. God is broadcasting His signal everyday. Sometimes you may be too far away to hear from God, just like we can get too far away from a radio signal and it fades out. Perhaps our lives have too much static in them to be able to hear from God. We have to make a place for God and make time to hear from Him. We can't have lives full of distractions and negativity then think we can hear from God. But make time for Him and clear your mind and heart and then you will hear His voice if you listen. God greatly desires to talk with you.
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