In the noise
and confusion of day-to-day living, do we really stop and listen to what God is
trying to tell us? This noise and
confusion doesn’t necessarily have to be audible commotion; it can be continuous
thinking or even uncontrollable worrying. I
know for me personally, my mind is constantly wrapped up in thoughts of the day
or thoughts about my future. What words
from the Lord have I missed out on because my mind was wrapped up in the noise
and confusion of the hour?
This thought
recalls to my mind the story of how God spoke to Samuel. 1 Samuel 3:4 says that one night before he
had gone to sleep, the “Lord called
Samuel.” Thinking it was his
teacher, Eli, Samuel ran to him and said, “You called. I’m here.”
Eli must’ve said, “Um, sorry Sammy, but it wasn’t me. Go back to bed.” So Samuel went back to bed, but he heard his
name again! So again he goes to Eli,
thinking it was him. Eli says, “Sam, I
didn’t call you. You sure your hearing
is okay? Go back to bed.” Samuel goes back to bed and again hears his
name. He goes to Eli once more, and by
this time, Eli realizes that Samuel isn’t crazy and that God is the one who is
calling Samuel’s name. Eli says to
Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if He [God]
calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your
servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9).
Samuel followed Eli’s instructions and when he heard God call his name
for the fourth time he said, “Speak, for
your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10).
God then proceeded to tell Samuel some important news. We find out later that as Samuel grew, God “revealed Himself to Samuel through His word”
(1 Samuel 3:21).
Most times,
I feel like Samuel, in that I can’t hear beyond the noise of the day. So many thoughts consume me that I don’t take
time to truly stop and listen to what God wants to tell me. I’m so thankful God is a patient and
forgiving God who waits for me to shut off all the commotion so that
I can focus on Him. In His presence is
knowledge, wisdom, understanding, life, peace, joy, love, strength, and the list goes on
and on. I love Psalm 16:11 that says if
I go into His presence, He “will show me
the way of life, granting me the joy of His presence and the pleasures of
living with [Him] forever.” In this season of my life, I am learning
patience and “waiting upon the Lord.”
How can I “wait upon Him” if I don’t stop and listen? Hmm…makes ‘ya think, doesn’t it!?!
Turning off
the noise depends on me. When that
happens, like Samuel, I can truly say “Speak,
Lord, for your servant is listening.”
