(The Gift of Listening)

Written by Abby Caymol | Nov 15, 2023

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, –‭James‬ ‭1:19‬ ‭NIV‬

Then we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, Lord, have given me.” Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him. –‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭26:7‭-‬10‬ ‭NIV

Have you experienced asking someone a favor repeatedly? To the point where you are already stressing out just to be heard?

It is truly a burden in one’s heart not to be heard and understood by someone who matters in our hearts.

Time has played a significant factor in the situation in moments like this. To be heard and understood is an essential component of a relationship. But it takes a big heart to listen and understand someone’s plea.

The Lord Jesus Christ is a great listener, and He is generous in giving understanding without finding fault to anyone who comes to Him.

God sees what is going on in your life. He hears every cry of misery that is tormenting you.

Sometimes, you wonder and ask God if He sees you. Why would a loving God let you endure this pain and suffering? Does He hear our cries?

When the Israelites plea to God in Exodus 6:6-8, the Lord hears them and has a great plan for them. The Lord rescued the Israelites from the suffering they had gone through at the hands of the Egyptians. From there, God introduces Himself to them, saying that He is the Only God who has the power to release them from the yoke of their oppressors. The Lord set them free, and He was very generous in providing all their needs after He rescued them with His mighty hands.

Only a powerful God can perform signs and wonders to free you from the burden you are carrying. It is all because the God who rescues you has a big heart to listen.

In Deuteronomy 2:7, God has been with the Israelites for forty years. Their shoes never wore out (Deuteronomy 29:5-6), and their clothes remained the same. People in their kin died along the way going through the promised land, but God performed miraculous things for the Israelites to survive—the wonders of a loving God who heard their cries.

When the Lord rescues you from great distress, He will bring you out of the situation and provide generously all you need in your journey to a new beginning.

To answer the previous paragraph above, why would a good and loving God let you endure pain and suffering? Does He hear our cries?

Whatever you are going through is temporary because the Lord, who listens to your prayers every moment, orchestrates a rescue plan for you that you may not know about.

God promises deliverance for those who call Him and completely trust Him. God assures our liberation and gives us hope for a new beginning filled with milk and honey as we seek Him with all our hearts (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

Only some people are capable of listening with all their hearts. Mostly, we react before we listen because we want to be sure we are heard first and understood right away.

It is the total opposite of who God is.

God will do the act of love first, even before we realize that we need to listen to Him.

The Lord hears our cries and listens to our hearts in searching for Him. he is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).

Comfort comes through listening, and action speaks love.