We are all born with the desire to be loved, accepted, understood, and listened to. Some of us have been blessed to be born into a loving family, or blessed with friends, or others who unconditionally love, believe in, and listen to us, even though we are far from being flawless. To have someone who will pay attention to our words while making a conscious effort to hear our heart is a priceless blessing that brings healing to our soul, and we shouldn’t take for granted.
In stark contrast to this blessing, there are many of us who feel as if we have never been listened to or heard, by anyone. To feel ignored immensely wounds the heart, while creating abandonment issues that make us question our true value and worth. These wounds of the soul generate trust issues, which make it hard to trust even loving people, or trust in a loving, caring, giving God. When we cannot trust that God cares and is listening – or we have no trust in a person, even one who is non-judgmental and will listen to our hearts- slowly but surely we will become imprisoned in our negative feelings of loneliness, exasperation, and hurt.
Yet God longs to bring healing to all of us, so we can learn that we are valuable and that He is listening to every word we sigh to Him- whether in gladness, sadness, anger or fear. Sometimes when we cannot believe God listens, He sends a caring teacher, pastor, counselor or friend to help us along by listening first and then pointing us toward the Truth. We all need help and encouragement sometime!
As our faith grows and our heart heals, we will begin to understand that some people can be trusted to listen to our heart, and subsequently we can learn to trust more in our loving, listening God. Then, because we KNOW experientially how beneficial and healing “listening” has been to us personally, God will send us to hear the heart of someone else that needs a loving, caring, non-judgmental listener to help facilitate their emotional and spiritual healing.
The Lord listens and heeds when I call to Him. Psalms 4: 3b
Listen to my words, O Lord, give heed to my sighing and groaning. Psalms 5:1
Yes, I know You always hear and listen to Me: John 11:42a
