Most dogs don’t like thunder. Mine are no exception.

A massive thunderstorm moved through the area recently, with rumbles so close that it shook the house. My dog slept a few feet away from where I was sitting, but quickly moved to press against me as the thunder rolled.

I was immediately reminded of the Todd Agnew song This Fragile Breath. In case you aren’t familiar with that one, the chorus begins with “You speak in thunder and lightning, Your voice shakes the  mountains, the foundations of the earth…”

As I watched my dog, I thought about how often I’ve prayed that I just want to hear God’s voice. I’ve thought how cool – and helpful – it would be if I could just hear God audibly, and I’ve longed for that.

Yet it occurred to me that perhaps hearing Him audibly wouldn’t be such a great thing for me. In fact, if I were to hear Him audibly, I might find myself trembling as my dog did, for His voice might be terrifying.

We see this in scripture. After God gave Moses the ten commandments and Moses read them to the Israelites, the people responded this way: “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” Exodus 20:18-19.

Scripture often compares God’s voice to thunder (Job 37:4-5, Psalm 29:3 and 68:33 to name a few).

I’m so thankful that God, in His wisdom, gives me the soft whispers of His Spirit instead of the thundering voice that overwhelms the human heart. One day I’ll hear that voice clearly and it won’t terrify me, but until then I’ll be content with the gentleness of His Spirit’s leading.