Does God speak in 'ordinary time?' Oh yes, God does! But we may have to listen a little harder in a time when visions are rare. In 'ordinary time' God often speaks in ways that seem so ordinary. Samuel mistook the voice of God for the old priest's voice But it was really God speaking.

Remember when Elijah, the prophet, was listening for the Word of the Lord? A huge wind swept over the mountain where the prophet stood. Surely, God would speak through wind. But no! Then an earthquake rolled across the mountain. Surely God would speak in the earthquake. But no! There was a fire, which furiously blazed around Elijah. Was God in the fire? No! Finally, after all the sound and fury, there was a "gentle whisper." After turbulence and noise, God spoke to the listening prophet in a whisper.

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God may speak in ways we don't recognize as God. When things are ordinary, as they are a good bit of the time, we need to listen harder for God's Word to us. We may need to listen harder for God's Word through what seems nothing more than some ordinary voice we've heard so often. Richard Foster's book on prayer has a chapter titled, "Praying the Ordinary." Foster suggests that we both hear God speak and speak back to God through our work. "The artist, the novelist, the surgeon, the plumber, the secretary, the lawyer, the homemaker, the farmer, the teacher — all are praying by offering their work up to God." (p.172) Foster quotes Catholic saint Ignatius Loyola: "Everything that one turns in the direction of God is prayer."

When things are 'ordinary,' as they are a good bit of the time, we also need to keep listening to God's Word in Scripture. For it is there that God often speaks to us if we will listen. Someone told me recently of continuing to have a regular quiet time with God even though he is going through a significant depression. Though he feels nothing, he is being faithful.

In 'ordinary time' we need to pray Samuel's prayer again and again: "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

What God says to us in His Word may not be to our liking. Do you think Samuel wanted to hear words of judgment against his mentor Eli? But Samuel listened and Samuel passed the Word on to Eli. Even in ordinary time God communicates His Word.

Some of us may have gotten the idea from well-meaning preachers and devotional writers that following Jesus is one great thrill, one nonstop rollercoaster ride of excitement. But we're finding that it's not that way at all. Maybe we're wondering if there's something wrong with us.

Some of us may be experiencing what one saint of the church called "the dark night of the soul." This is a time in which we have no feelings of excitement about our spiritual life. And, according to John of the Cross, this 16th century saint, this is not a bad thing. Writes John of the Cross, "the 'dark night' is when . . . persons lose all the pleasure that they once experienced in their devotional life. This happens because God wants to purify them and move them on to great heights."

So what do we need in order to walk effectively through these dark nights, through these 'ordinary times' of life? I suggest that we, like Hannah, need PATIENT HOPE that is willing to wait for what God is bringing to birth in us. We need patient hope that is willing to wait for God's time and God's timing. We need patient hope that is willing to wait for God's answers to our fervent prayer.

Like young Samuel, we also need FAITHFUL LISTENING for the voice of God. We need to be faithful listeners to the Word even during the mundane and unexciting, everyday times of life. For even then God speaks if we listen for His voice.

Patient hope and faithful listening are not thrilling virtues, but necessary ones, necessary virtues if we are to continue to journey toward God and journey with Jesus during ordinary time — which, may well be a lot of the time.

Richard Foster offers this prayer: "Almighty, most holy, most high God, thank you for paying attention to small things. Thank you for valuing the insignificant. Thank you for being interested in the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. Thank you for caring about me." (p. 178)

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H. Mark Abbott is pastor of First Free Methodist Church in Franklin, TN.