Heavenly Telephone

I had the privilege of attending a women's Bible study at our church recently, and the topic was listening to/hearing from God. Very good study, but I didn't get to complete it all due to scheduling conflicts. Not that I think I don't know how to properly communicate with my Father, but I do like to have tips and scriptures to help me along. There are times when I hear Him loud and clear--kind of like "Thanks Lord, but that was so loud it hurt my ears!" Ever have that happen to you? I sometimes wonder if He finds humor in the way I try to listen to Him. Even if the answer is clear I can muddle it up for sure. Then there are those times when the Father is silent. Silent in that I have not heard a thing and wonder if there's something wrong with my heavenly telephone. No reception on this end. Hmmmm.....
It is usually during those times that He gives me just one word. Not really an answer to my question or situation, but just a single word. Even at that, I try to read a lot into it and try to figure out just what He means. That's when I think He might find some humor in it. Similar to times with my own children. For example, the other night Caitlin asked me a question and I gave my typical answer of "because I said so sweety." Not really good enough for her. She continued to ask the same question, just in a different form. After getting frustrated with her, I had to explain that there are times when "because I said so" needs to sufice...that as an adult there are things I know or see that can't be explained to a 9 year old little girl, and that she needs to take my word for it. Duh.....I'm sure that's how God feels with me:
"Melissa, it's because I said so. There are situations and things going on that only I have understanding of, and right now you need to take My Word for it."
Point taken Lord--thank you for that gentle reminder.
The example of this in my life right now is this house selling process. When we listed our house on Anna Street (the one previous to this house), it took 1 week to sell it. Thinking that God had the exact same thing planned for this one, I became a bit anxious when we rolled into month #2 with only 4 showings and an open house under our belt. Not that I have become discouraged, it's just that I wanted a clear-cut answer as to what He was thinking. His one word to me was PATIENCE. Funny that he gave the same word to John. Obviously the heavenly telephone is functioning properly, it's just a problem on the receiving end. So, for now, I will have patience. Patience in knowing that He works all things for our good. The understanding that I can't see the big puzzle--He only gives us one piece at a time. When I look back 20+ years from now, it's going to be a lovely picture made from all of those pieces. It's the getting to that point that's so trying on one's spiritual walk. Again, patience...................patience.................patience.
"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."
Colossians 1:10-12