Always Hears…Always Stops

Do you ever feel like your prayers are hitting the ceiling? Like you’re dialing to talk to God, but it goes straight to voicemail? That your texts show they’ve been delivered, but they remain unread?

I think we all have been there, or are there, or will be there soon. Or you’re all three and have hit the trifecta.

I wish I understood. I wish I could see beyond what my eyes can see, and see what He sees. I wish, but would it make it any better to know what’s around the bend?

I bet there is a good reason why He doesn’t always let us see. Maybe He knows our human heart, that if we saw the finish line, He knows we would stop trying and tell ourselves, “why struggle?” when we know we are going to finish, and in essence delay the finish. Does that make sense? It’s like a revolving Catch-22 that will never catch itself.

Or maybe He knows that seeing doesn’t always equate to better. If we saw what is going to happen, would we still need faith to walk through the hardships? I know there is a victory coming, but I’m clinging to His strength and not my own. If I saw the victory would I move God to the back of the line? And then once again in essence miss the victory by moving God?

Many times if life is status quo, faith suffers. When the lilies of the valley are blooming, the weeds of complacency start sprouting. When rainbows are spreading, promises get forgotten. When our belly’s are full, our hands stay in our pockets instead of reaching up toward Him.

I do not enjoy the sound of silence in response to my prayers. But looking back, I’ve grown most during those seasons.

A few weeks ago someone said something profound. It’s simple, but so true.

Jesus always hears. Jesus always stops.

Jesus always hears. And when hears, Jesus always stops.

You may feel like your prayers are getting lost in the shuffle. But they aren’t. Take hope in the assurance that each prayer is heard.

When you are at the bottom of your pit, so often you just want some company. You just want to feel like you’re not alone. You just want to be heard.

He hears you.

But He doesn’t just hear your cries like a parent ignoring their child’s tantrum. He doesn’t just hear your complaints like a customer service representative. He doesn’t just hear your order like a waitress after a 12 hour shift.

He listens to you.

There is a difference between hearing and listening.

You can hear sounds, but when something catches your interest, you listen. Your favorite song on the radio. The sound of a relaxing stream. The melody of a songbird. You go from hearing to listening, because something piqued your interest.

Jesus goes from hearing to listening when He hears your voice.

And He stops what He’s doing to give you His undivided attention.

Nothing is more important at this moment. Nothing could cause Him to turn you away. Nothing could make Him ignore your voice.

So, take heart that He is listening. Stand firm that He has stopped for you. And rest in peace in knowing that no prayer ever comes back unanswered.

We may not get the response we want, but we always do get a response.

His love sees beyond a simple yes or no. A no may be hard to hear, but once again, remember, He is with you still. He has stopped to sit with you. He has stopped to commune with you. He has stopped to be with just you.

May you know you are always heard by the one who loves to hear your voice. So, let Him hear it. And maybe as He stops to listen, your restlessness may be stilled as well.

Peace