There is a need I have in my life. I need people to listen to me. I value people who will not only hear what I’m saying, but really listen to me. Now, I’m not a perfect listener. Sometimes I really stink at this. There have been times when my wife and kids have been talking to me and I have been preoccupied with other thoughts. After talking a while they will say something like, “are you even listening to me?” Busted. Even though I fail often at this, I value listening and I really try to listen to people.
But back to my opening thought… I need people in my life that will listen to me. In fact, rarely will I open up to people unless I feel they are really listening to me. One thing that frustrates me in conversation is when people throw in a courteous “uh huh or yeah”, but in reality they aren’t listening.
One of the attributes of God I most appreciate is that he listens. When his people, the Israelites, were slaves in Egypt it says they groaned and cried out because of their slavery, and their cries were heard! It says, “God heard their groaning” (Exodus 2:24). God listened to their cries. He really listened. Another time a man by the name of Hezekiah received some devastating news. He was told to get things in order because he was going to die. After hearing this news, Hezekiah did what most people would do, he cried out to God. And how did God respond? God said, “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold I will heal you” (2 Kings 20:5). God listened. There are so many times when God hears the prayers of people… even people who don’t believe in him.
I need people to listen to me. I doubt I’m the only with this need. I think we all have this need deep down in our souls. How cool is it that we have a God who takes time to listen. He hears my cries. He listens to my needs. He hears my complaining. That’s awesome.