Recently during our Sunday Night Bible Study, we were discussing how the Lord listens to us when we pray. I was reminded of a little four-year-old girl at the preschool where I was teaching music years ago. This little girl was quite shy, didn’t speak a lot and allowed the others to boss her around. I remember trying to get her to open up a little and sometimes I could manage a smile out of her. The school year went on and teacher appreciation week rolled around. During that time the parents were given slips a paper and would ask their child what they loved about each teacher and then write down the response. Over the years my notes were almost all the same. Mrs. Melodie laughs a lot, and she is silly. This year the note from this little one stood out. It read, “I love Mrs. Melodie because when I talk she listens to me”. I remember sitting there holding that note and crying because somehow I had communicated with her that she was important and that she knew that I heard her.
The need to be heard is important to everyone, whether they are an extrovert or not. We want to know someone will take the time to slow down and listen. So many times, I carry around inside me all the hurt, burdens, and pain while looking for someone who will truly listen. I waste so much energy looking for that person but what I need to be reminded of is that I have that kind of relationship with God. His word tells me in Psalm 40:1
“I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.”
I love the imagery that this verse creates in my mind. The God of all creation leaning in so that He can hear me. He not only hears me, but He wants me talk to Him about everything…the good, the bad and the ugly. I have a few people in my life that I can talk to about almost anything. They will listen and pray, which is a huge blessing in my life, but God does more than listen.
Psalm 40:2-3 goes on to say, “He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord.”
I know that we are supposed to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). I know that we are to encourage one another (I Thess 5:11). I know that we are to pray and share our lives with other believers. I am so very thankful for the men and women God has blessed my life with who can do this Christian walk with me. But if they are the only ones I pour my heart out to I am missing out on the One who can do more than listen. Nothing compares to those moments with God when I let go of it all and cry out to Him. I don’t have to worry if He has time for me on His schedule or wonder if He cares about whatever is weighing down my heart. I know that He is leaning in taking all my cares and concerns into His loving hands.
I know that I have been heard by the One who knows me best.
Melodie