Does God Hear You?

Our words are feathers that fly on our breath. Let them go in a holy direction. - Jeanne Lohmann

My littlest boy Jacob has basically been an only child for the past week.  Both of his older brothers are gone for the moment--one on a mission trip, and the other attending a wedding out of state.  

I've noticed that when his brothers aren't around, Jacob wants to talk more and share more about what he's thinking.  This translates into some fairly diverse conversations about things that happened at his day camp, a new video game he loves to play, Minecraft and much more. 

I've also noticed a bit of a pattern with him.  Jacob will chatter away for a while, and then will pause to make sure that I'm listening.  I completely understand why he does it.  He wants to know that I care about what he cares about to some extent, but deeper still he wants to know that I care about him.  

We all have the same longings when it comes to our conversations with others.  We want to be heard when we're speaking our truths, revealing our feelings, uncovering our secrets.  The poet John Fox describes it like this:  

When someone deeply listens to you
it is like holding out a dented cup
you've had since childhood
and watching it fill up with
cold, fresh water.
When it balances on top of the brim,
you are understood.
When it overflows and touches your skin,
you are loved.  

But we also have deep, intimate longings for connection to God that we don't often acknowledge.  We want our prayers to be heard.  We long to know that God cares, that God is listening.  

The only way that we can have the experience of connection with God, to feel God's presence and hear God's voice speaking to us deep within our spirit is to actually spend time sharing with God and having the courage to be open and vulnerable to God's presence.  

The Apostle Paul said it like this:  

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  

Take the time today to share your feelings, desires, concerns, fears, doubts, praises and hopes with God.  Spend time in conversation with God and then practice actively listening to how God might be responding.  

Don't be anxious, but be filled with confidence that God hears you, knows you and loves you.  

And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always.  Amen.