Can You Hear Me Now?

A couple of Monday’s ago my daughter and I decided to order take-out from our favorite Chinese food restaurant. Dialing the number from memory, I mentally itemized my order while an answering machine clicked on and ticked off information.

I waited patiently thinking perhaps someone else was ordering on the other line which might explain the recorded message I’d never heard before. The message concluded and I waited for someone to come on the line and take my order. No such luck.

I dialed again and debated about ordering an eggroll with my meal as I listened to the answering machine spit out its pre-recorded message a second time. The message finished and again no one came on the line to take my order.

“Well, we’re going to have to just drive over there and order in person,” I told my daughter. “Their stupid phone is broken! No one is picking up.”

My daughter looked skeptical and dialed the number herself. After a few seconds she hung up, cleared her throat and laughed, “Clearly you didn’t listen to the message, Mom. The message was saying that they’ve changed their hours and they are now closed on Monday’s.”

I’m ashamed to admit I hadn’t heard a single word uttered on the recorded message. That’s not the first time I’ve been guilty of listening without actually hearing. For some time now, God has been speaking to me about changing some things in my life, but just like the pre-recorded answering machine message, I’ve not been hearing what He’s been trying to tell me.

The fact is God speaks to each of His children daily. His is not always the voice of correction or rebuke. God delights in communicating how much He loves us. Sadly, so many of us are guilty of listening when God speaks without actually hearing His voice. I imagine there are times when God feels a bit like the guy in the cell phone commercial moving throughout our lives asking, “Can you hear me now?”

For example, those mornings when we’re trying to sleep in and the annoying call of chirping Robin trilling outside our window wakes us. That is the sweet sound of the Father giving voice to one of His creatures singing us awake. “Good morning my beloved; can you hear me now?”

Our evening commute driving into a blazing sunset is more than just a blinding distraction through the windshield. That is God saying, “I love you enough to paint you this beautiful postcard. “Can you hear me now?”

The friend that calls you out of the blue to say hello because they suddenly felt the need to pray for you; they are the mouthpiece of Jesus whispering, “I love you so much I’ve gifted you with friends who care about you. “Can you hear me now?”

If we take the time to read Holy Scripture, it is a love letter to each of us. With each turn of the page God’s voice speaks to us reminding each of us all that He sacrificed for us because He loves us and He desires a relationship with us.

Rather than ignoring these not-so-subtle messages to us we should pray, give me ears to hear, Lord.

Every day our heavenly Father is speaking to us. If we are careful to really hear His voice He is asking, “Can you hear me now?” Are you listening?

Blessings in Christ,
Kathy K.