The voice I follow

Learning to silence the noise and hear the Father

The following poem is a part of our February focus on the spiritual practice of Meditation. Read more here about our exploration of the spiritual disciplines in 2025 through creative and reflective writing.

---

by Amy Lee

After I quit my job in May 2024, my husband booked a night away for me near Bodega Bay. As I typed away on my laptop, God nudged me to stop working and drive to the beach. I walked in the sand until I found a large boulder where I could sit alone with God. I took a deep breath and cried the tears that now dared to come out of hiding.

While I felt angry, devastated, confused, and tired, I also felt Him– Emmanuel, God with us. As I looked at the birds being birds, the clouds being clouds, and the water being water, I accepted God’s invitation to just be. Meditating on who God was and who I was in light of Him, I shed tears not of hope but of desperation and longing. In His presence, I began writing.

God continues to remind me that His voice is the safest of all the voices I hear and replay in my head.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28 KJV

I will know who I am by the voice that I follow.
I will know who I am by the voices I ignore.
31 years of words being spoken into me,
words I wish I could erase 
but can’t forget.
Words I wish I could remember, 
are lost in a sea of lies.
The waves keep coming.
The moment I glimpse the truth,
another wave covers it,
just long enough for me to forget. 
As I lose sight, 
I lose hope.
But Hope does not lose sight of me. 
Jesus. The good shepherd. 
I hear him whisper
I saw how you sought me amongst the waves.
I saw you starting to drift,
and I came to you. 
The truth has come to me, 
and I behold Him with tears,
as I consider how close
I was to giving up. 
The good shepherd. 
He knows me by name.
And He knows where I’m going.
I set my ears on His voice.
I meditate on who He is– 

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “therefore, I will hope in him.” *

I know Him. 
I know His voice is not of fear but courage.
I know His voice is not of condemnation but grace.
I know His voice is not hurried but steady.
I know His voice is not timid but a mighty roar
that awakens the dead in me.

I know who I am by the voice I follow. 
I know who I am by the voices I ignore.
I am a sheep of the good shepherd. 
He left his ninety-nine to find me.
So when I hear His voice, I put fear behind me
and follow Him. 

He whispers, 
“You are my daughter, whom I love and adore.”
He whispers,
“There is nothing broken in you that I cannot restore.”
May my ears be tuned to His voice forevermore.

*Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV

Amy Lee is a Chinese American writer. She lives with her husband and two kids, who keep her praying, laughing, and crying around the clock. Her passion is for writing pieces that ground readers in the hope of Jesus amidst feelings of sadness, anxiety, and fear.

---

SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR UPCOMING WEBINAR

What makes poetry distinctive from prose?

How can you engage poetry as a spiritual practice?

How do you hone your craft as a poet or even BEGIN to write poetry?

On February 27, join published MFA poet and former poetry editor Melanie Weldon-Soiset (@melaniewelsoi) to explore the answers to those questions and learn about poetry’s three superpowers: compression, containers, and concrete imagery.

In this webinar, Melanie will offer optional prompts for generating your own poetry drafts as well as provide time for questions and optional sharing. All experience levels are welcome! Bring your questions, hesitations, and curiosity!

This webinar is hosted by Redbud Writers Guild (@redbudwriters) and is free for all guild members. General admission is $15. All proceeds go to support Redbud’s Women of Color Mentoring Program.