Silent = Listen

Have you ever noticed that the words silent and listen have exactly the same letters. I found that interesting when I heard it on one of the Christian radio stations. I have been convicted often over the last few months about being silent and listening for God’s voice. I am a type A personality and a single woman with all the accompanying responsibilities. So, one can imagine my physical reaction to suddenly being without a primary paying contract with which to pay my bills. It is unnatural for me to be silent, to just listen, or especially to wait. I must do something! I have nobody else to depend on but me. This is true for many women and becomes a reason why some of us end up in relationships with men who are all wrong for them. Of course, we all want to have love in our life, but the pressures of the world often cause us to settle. I’ve told myself, “He is nice, kind of cute, and makes a decent living.” He isn’t a Christian and doesn’t appear to have a clear moral compass, but it would be so much easier if I had someone who would help take care of me (financially). It is just not fair that I have to do all this alone. Isn’t that is what we single ladies say to ourselves.

In Exodus 14:13-14, Moses said to the grumbling Israelites, “Fear not, stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today….The Lord will fight for you, and you only have to be silent. Proof that the answer lies in the acts of being silent and listening. When I asked my pastor if he had ever heard that the words listen and silent had the same letters, he looked at me a bit perplexed (he was confirming it in his head), but I didn’t get the feeling he found it all that profound. Ok, I guess I was expecting him to be entertained by that tidbit of information. Afterall, it confirmed what I was learning. Instead, he asked, “Did you know that in the Old Testament, the word listen suggests “be obedient.”

Hmmm. As usual, Pastor made me think a bit more. Even after parting the Red Sea and destroying the Egyptians, the Israelites still grumbled – even after God provided sweet water, meat and bread, still they complained and disobeyed. I had to take a good look at my own life. Can I be found doing just as the Israelites? God has seen me through so many trials—He has proven that He has my back, yet I still catch myself complaining. Why aren’t things happening? Why aren’t they happening now? Why didn’t God just leave me where I was, where I was comfortable? The reality is, I’ve been “listening” as we define the word today. I sit quietly and sometimes I even believe I get clear guidance from God in the quietness of those moments. The problem is, I am not always obedient. 

I have been convicted to start a blog for some time now and yet today is the first time I’ve put my fingers on the keyboard to start. It’s not even that I don’t want to do it. It is more about whether my words would be of any interest to an audience. The scripture clearly indicates that I must do more than just hear God. I must do what He tells me to do and do it now! It is not up to me to decide His purpose, but rather be his instrument. 

So going forward, I am going to take a lesson from Habbakuk 3:17-19 and try to live by what I’ve learned. Paraphrased, the scripture says that regardless of the things I don’t have – even if those things seem to be so critical to my well-being, I will find joy in the Lord for I know He will make a way for me to reach the goals He has set before me. I will stop complaining, live with joy, and I will listen (Old Testament style).

Thanks for coming along side today.  Be courageous!