Today, during my devotional time (yes, even tech enthusiasts like me believe in a higher force to put our faith on), I came across Amos 3:8: “If the lion roars, who will not fear? If the Lord Jehovah speaks, who will not prophesy?”
I’ve been reading from a Bible that includes notes and inspirational texts alongside Scripture. Today’s reading had a powerful reflection taken from the book Run to the Roar by Joe Hurston (2026). This passage spoke deeply to me about listening to God’s voice, even amidst life’s loudest challenges.
Joe Hurston shares how we’re often called to run toward the very things that intimidate us—what he describes as the “lion’s roar.” But when we hear God’s call, it drowns out fear and empowers us to move forward in faith and service, no matter how daunting the obstacles may seem.
If this resonates with you, I encourage you to check out the book. You can find it on Amazon using the link below:
👉 Run to the Roar by Joe Hurston on Amazon
Below is the full text I read today, both from Scripture and the reflection:
The Roar of the Lion or the Voice of God?
“If the lion roars, who will not fear? If the Lord Jehovah speaks, who will not prophesy?” —Amos 3:8
The prophet Amos heard God speaking to him and responded by delivering a message of judgment (and ultimate hope) to the disobedient and sinful Israelites. He uses a very moving analogy, saying that although a lion roars, the true servant of God hears the voice of God above the roar of the lion.
There are times when the calling (that inexplicable “calling of God to serve”) is the driving force that makes us move forward. Jeremiah called it “a burning fire shut up in my bones” (Jeremiah 20:9). He wanted to remain silent, but the Word of God burned in his heart, and he grew weary of resisting it. This type of calling is an inexorable burden to move forward, even without guarantees of success. If you hear the roar clearly, you cannot ignore it. You might fail; your efforts might seem foolish to others, but the call to follow God in obedience is louder than the roar of defeat.
As I move forward and venture into the lion’s territory, I have encountered many lions: lack of funds, malaria symptoms, river floods, blocked roads, and dangerous thieves. On the road during one of my trips to help the victims of the devastation in the Dominican Republic, “the lions” roared and even attacked. However, the cries of desperate mothers drowned out the voices of the lions. When you venture into the lion’s territory, you will hear both the lion and the call to help. Through hurricanes David and Frederic, God opened my ears and allowed me to hear the cries of the victims of the disaster.
Do you hear the roar? Impossible! Don’t come here. Turn back! This is not your problem!
Do you hear the call to run toward the lion? Help me! I am spiritually destitute, oppressed, hungry, wounded, sick; my children are crying! My children are dying!
Which voice is louder? The roar of the lion or the call of the Macedonian man saying, “Come over and help us” (Acts 16:9)? What God-given desires are you stifling? Could you cultivate and use them to bring hope to those who cry out for help? What needs will you encounter today along the way? Begin the work that lies before you, and keep your heart and mind open to God’s guidance.
This reflection was truly humbling and inspiring for me today. It’s a call to action: to listen to God’s voice above the noise, face challenges with faith, and serve others with purpose.
What challenges or “roars” are you facing today? How is God calling you to respond?
