A searchable, downloadable PDF of the original review appears below. Dan McDougall is a recent M.C.S. graduate from Regent College.
The Joy of Listening to God. Joyce Huggett, Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1986, 240 pp., $6.95 U.S.
In our contemporary society, we are often asked (and ask ourselves) such questions as, “Where do we go from here?’’ and, “What should we do in this situation?” The proliferation of how-to books on every subject imaginable provides not-so-mute testimony of our obsession with solving difficulties by means of our own will and action.
Even – some might suggest especially – in evangelical circles the overriding concern with ‘doing something for God’ all too infrequently and glibly remember the Lord’s instruction to “Be still and know that I am God,” yet, for all intents and purposes live our lives as if we had been told to “stop your ears to Me and run around willy-nilly.”
In her masterfully-crafted book, Joyce Huggett shares glimpses of her own pilgrimage in discovering The Joy of Listening to God. While the book is packed with personal reflections on the changes which occurred within her, however, it is not primarily a biographical record of one Christian’s journey. Rather, she interweaves the discussion of her own walk with that of other pilgrims, drawing heavily from such writers as James Borst, Thomas Merton and David Watson (among others) to show that hers is not a rogue offshoot of the normal Christian life. She also marshals a wealth of scriptural evidence to argue that those biblical characters who were most spiritually effective were characterized by lives of waiting before God and were willing to hear him on his terms.
Huggett begins by describing her aversion toward the emotionalism which seemed to be inextricably bound up in the charismatic and contemplative lifestyle, and in a disarmingly frank manner relates how her “Protestant ears” heard with suspicion anything that smacked of Catholicism. God’s pursuit of her was not thwarted, however, and he showed her the joy of silence before him. Far from being a waste of time that might better be used in other more ‘practical’ pursuits, God was able to minister to her in ways hitherto unimagined.
The problem which faced her, however, was that her day-to-day life was not that of the hermit but one of raising teenagers and helping her husband in a busy parish. She nevertheless soon discovered that stillness before God is not an alternative to a hectic schedule, but a necessary counterpoint within such a task-oriented lifestyle in order to maintain personal spiritual health and provide a wellspring for helping others.
But what is it that happens in silence? Far from being simply a psychological escape from the cares of a busy life, it allows us to hear the still, small voice of God in unexpected ways. Huggett outlines the avenues through which God speaks, employing both biblical and modern examples: visions, dreams, voices, angels, nature, our own imagination, tongues, prophecies, and words of wisdom and knowledge. I must admit that some of these initially seemed to me to be rather suspect in the modern setting, yet the author cleverly intersperses scriptural examples with correlative contemporary ones within her own experience. Quickly on the heels of what might have easily become a contentious discussion, however, Huggett underscores the possibility of mistakes being made in discerning God’s communication to us, and she thus points to Scripture itself as “the touchstone of listening.” It is the resource which prevents us from straying from God’s will for us, and from mistaking our own wills or Satan’s for God’s. As she quotes from David Watson, “The antidote to abuse is not disuse but right use.” We are commanded in Scripture to listen to God through all the media which he chooses to use; it is not an optional aspect of the spiritual life open only to a select group of contemplatives.
The author offers some helps towards facilitating listening to God, narrowly escaping the trap of yet one more spiritual ‘technique’ book. She shares some of the disciplines which have helped her own listening to develop depth and consistency: the reading of spiritual classics, keeping a prayer journal, listening to meditative music, nurturing a soul friend relationship, setting apart Quiet days, making retreats to monasteries or convents, and fasting. She shares these personal disciplines in such a way as to spur the reader to consider incorporating some or all of them in his or her specific circumstances. To preclude an unhealthy introspection, she suggests that a group of ‘God-listeners’ provides balance and nurturing for the believer.
She also marshals a wealth of scriptural evidence to argue that those biblical characters who were most spiritually effective were characterized by lives of waiting before God and were willing to hear him on his terms.
Huggett is careful to observe that the results of listening to God are not all sweetness and light. True, silent contemplation yields rest, re-creation, and a renewed sense of wonder and praise. But it also can bring long-suppressed pain to the surface and involve the experience often termed ‘the dark night of the soul’, when one is exposed to feelings of abandonment by God. Even these times, however, are purgative and lead to fresh appreciation of God’s sovereignty, reminding us that in contemplation we do not conjure up God or manipulate him to suit our own needs.
Perhaps the most intriguing thing about the ‘listening’ life for Huggett is that, while there are numerous biblical and historical examples from which we can learn, each individual has a peculiar way of waiting upon God. Any attempt to follow a set blueprint for contemplation not only tempts stagnation but also neglects the uniqueness of the person. Just as God created us as distinct and different in our makeup, so too his communication to us occurs in personalized ways. To unfairly judge one another’s listening postures and methods creates rifts which should not exist among God’s people. In the preface to the book, the author describes her journey as one of reconciliation, an ongoing process of God “breaking down the barriers of suspicion and prejudice that divide Christian from Christian” (p. 14).
This book is highly recommended for those who are discontented with the strictures imposed by the old adage that “God speaks to us through Scripture; we speak to God through prayer.” It explores additional avenues for vertical communication and thus for enhanced horizontal ministry. Perhaps most importantly, however, it underscores the notion that while listening to God is a duty, it can and should be a joy that has ramifications in every aspect of life.