“Did you hear what she just said? Listen.”
It’s back in the ‘90s. I’m participating in a counseling workshop in Karachi. Led by a woman from the UK whose counseling ministry is all about listening.
She instructs us on the importance of fully taking in what someone is sharing with you. Don’t try to give answers. Don’t start telling your own story.
Just listen.
Are you listening?
We practice with a partner. She goes first. And I have to stop myself from interjecting thoughts and opinions. I bite my tongue.
Funny how quickly answers are forming in my mind as I hear the questions in my partner’s story. I’m thinking up solutions to her problems. Internally relating my own experiences to hers.
In the middle of figuring out how to connect our stories, the question comes from the facilitator.
“Did you really hear what she just said? Are you listening?
Even in the silence
With my ears skimming the surface of her words, I miss the point. In the swirl of this distracted internal processing, I’m not hearing her story. Truly.
Even in the silence between her sentences, I must listen.
Be still. Wait.
Listen.
Time with the Lord
I rise early in the morning for time with the Father. It’s a daily habit now.
Anticipated. Needed.
These days I sit in my chair at the antique writing desk from Karachi.
Bible and journal open, ready. The embroidered pencil case from Aceh is stuffed with pens and a highlighter.
Folded and tucked in the back of the journal is my Bible reading plan for the year.
This time devoting undivided attention to the Lord and drinking in His Truth is crucial, necessary.
Food for my soul.
I forget to listen
But there are days I sit down and launch my own agenda.
Fast-forwarding my mind to what’s ahead for that day. Or next week.
Turning to the passage assigned but reading quickly to get on with things.
I forget. Forget to listen. I do not have ears to hear.
Be still and know
I think about the listening seminar.
The discipline of waiting through the silences. Of stopping to listen even when inner activity pushes me to move on.
Be still.
Be still and know.
“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Listen
Rein in the rush. Turn from distraction. Focus on the words of the Word.
I’m still learning to listen. To the Lord. And to others.
What about you?
Do you need reminders to be still and wait? What helps you to focus and truly listen?
20 replies on “Listen”
I can totally relate, Susan! This came at a good time when I will be visiting a friend who desperately needs for me to listen. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing, Meg. Praying for you as you listen. Grace to you.
Yes! So good. A thought came to me. “Rein in to feel the rain.” Rivers of living water.
Love it! Thanks, friend 😊
Needed to hear this. Thank you.
Thankful for how He does this. Thanks for sharing.
So needs to be reminded to listen. God does speak in the silence
Thanks, sister. It’s worth the waiting, isn’t it?
I’m struggling these days/weeks to sort through emotional baggage being verbalized to me. Praying for the strength to listen.
So hard. Praying for you, sister, to know His grace and peace and strength in these days.
Thanks for this good reminder. I was doing times of silence, but have gotten out of the practice. Need to start again…
I’m interested to hear what this looks like—how you practice it.
You would think at my age I would have learned how to “be still and listen.” It’s a discipline and an ongoing exercise. For a Martha it’s not easy. Thanks for this reminder Susan. Teach me Lord to wait and listen.
Yes, I often need reminders! It encourages me to see my older sisters in the faith continuing on this journey of learning to be still and listen. Thankful for you.
Susan, thank you for this reminder. This is so hard. My friend was just encouraging me today to learn to listen more and use few words, as the Father does with us. So humbling. It’s such a confession of faith to listen.
Beautifully said, Ginny—“such a confession of faith to listen”! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much Susan. I needed that. Too often I don’t listen with God’s ears. This is a great reminder. God bless you.
Janette
God bless you, sister! And thank you for reading and sharing.
Many years ago our church did a musical that included a song that was about listening – waiting on God. I don’t remember who wrote the lyrics or the name of the musical, but I have never forgotten the opening lines. “It’s in the silence that we hear. It’s in the stillness that He’s heard. It’s in the quietness of our hearts that we find Him in His Word.” These words mean a lot to me and I would love to find the music again someday!
Thanks for sharing these wonderful lyrics, Dale. I hope you find the music!