“My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body.” Proverbs 4:20-22 (NAS)
Pride and self-pity rode along with me on that smoldering August day as I drove to the next appointment. Lately, it seemed that no one listened to me or took me seriously. No one understood the struggles of a pastor. Everyone expected me to listen to their problems but no one considered mine. Pastors evidently didn’t have any real problems. My only refuge was to get finished for the day and go home to my wife and family. At least there I would get respect and a warm, loving reception . . . or so I thought.
After a grueling day in the pastoral trench, I trudged through the front door of the parsonage needing some peace and quiet. But what I got was an outburst from an equally tired person who felt abandoned and distant from her pastor-husband. The gist of it ran along these lines. She was tired of self-centered, inconsiderate individuals who couldn’t be patient with other people whose needs were just as important as anybody’s. She was tired of going shopping without enough money to complete her purchases. She was tired of everybody thinking she was the only one who could do anything. She was tired of being cooped up all day and we were going out for the evening someplace full of people and lots of joyful noise. She didn’t ask: “how was your day, honey” or “do you want to go, sweetheart.” She simply handed me the car keys and said, “let’s go.”
Now at that point I had a choice. (I was born in the morning but it wasn’t that morning.) While she had unburdened herself, I had listened — really listened – and in the silence of my soul the Word of God had been speaking. I learned important things about my life and ministry. I learned the power of love and the power of the Word of God. No matter how I wanted to react, a scripture would remind me of why I couldn’t. That was a great evening. Peace and quiet reigned because I forgot about myself and listened to someone else.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for listening to our cries for salvation and deliverance. Empower us with a listening heart. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his Word and listen to it intently,