Today’s Word is HEARS

At the end of their third date, a young man takes his favorite girl home. Emboldened by the evening, he decides to try for that important first kiss.

With an air of confidence, he leans with his hand against the wall and, smiling, he says to her, “Darling, how about a goodnight kiss?”

Horrified, she replies, “Are you mad? My parents will see us!”

“Oh come on! Who’s gonna see us at this hour?”

“No, please. Can you imagine if we get caught?”

“Oh come on, there’s nobody around, they’re all sleeping!”

“No way. It’s just too risky!”

“Oh please, please, I like you so much!!”

“No, no, and no. I like you too, but I just can’t!”

Out of the blue, the porch light comes on, and the girl’s sister shows up in her pajamas, hair disheveled. In a sleepy voice the sister says: “Dad says to go ahead and give him a kiss. Or I can do it. Or if need be, he’ll come down himself and do it. But for crying out loud, we’d all like to go back to sleep, so tell him to take his hand off the intercom button!”

Oops! I suppose in a moment like that, you would prefer not to be heard by everyone in the house!

It is good to know who is listening. And who is it that is always listening? God is.

“But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.” (Psalm 4:3)

This also means that he is always with you. Some will ask, “If God is always with me and always hears me, then why doesn’t he fix the things that bother me?” Life with God doesn’t work like that. He uses wisdom and timing to guide us. He wants us to grow, mature, and increase in wisdom and strength. Yet he does not want us to feel alone and unsupported.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Many of our relationships are like this. We want to be heard and to know that we are not alone. Most of the time what we really need is the presence and listening ear of others, not fixes.

Today, be glad that God always hears you and is always with you. His divine presence is the very thing we need the most.

Blessings!

Chaplain Mark