I have a confession to make. . . sometimes I tune my kids out. I know that it is important to listen now when the concerns are small so that they will know I care and will listen to them later when the concerns are bigger. But sometimes, I’m tired. And sometimes, what they are talking about doesn’t fit into my priorities for the day. And a lot of the time, they want to talk when it is inconvenient!
Good thing this week’s theme is Love Listens. God listens to us! He doesn’t just hear the sounds we make, he really listens. Every time we are willing to talk to him, he is willing to listen to what we have to say. He isn’t tired or doing something more important. And often, what we are talking about doesn’t fit His priorities. Or we are just grumbling and complaining. But he listens anyway. The bible tells us so in Psalm 66:19 “But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.” and 1 Peter 3:12a “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.”
Have you heard that the rate of suicide has been rising due to the virus response? It has been tracked that the suicide rate usually rises with the unemployment rate and we saw a 10% jump in unemployment last month. We don’t know all the reasons someone might take their life, but it seems like one that occurs often is that they are lonely, they feel like no one cares about them or listens to them. If they only knew, that God is always willing to listen to them and love them no matter what.
May we be a voice of hope for the people who have none! May we share the good news of a God who loves. And love listens!
