We are all born with the desire to be accepted, understood, and listened to. Some of us are blessed with not perfect, but loving family members, friends, or others who unconditionally love, believe in, and listen to what we have to say-even though we are far from flawless. To have someone who will pay attention to our words while making a conscious effort to hear our heart is a priceless blessing.

In stark contrast to this blessing, there are many of us who feel as if we have never really been listened to or heard. To feel ignored wounds the heart and these rejection wounds sometime make it a challenge to trust God, people, or to value ourselves. It is easy to become imprisoned by the negative feelings of anger/hurt toward our self and others.

Yet God longs to bring healing to all of us, so we can recognize we are valuable and that He is lovingly listening to every word we sigh to Him-whether in gladness, sadness, anger, or fear. Sometimes, when we cannot believe that God listens, He sends a caring, nonjudgmental person who will listen and help us sort through the emotions attached to the rejection wound.

As our faith grows and our heart heals, we begin to believe that we can trust some people to listen-and subsequently trust that our loving God is listening! Now, because we know experientially how beneficial and healing “listening” has been to us personally, when God sends someone who needs a loving, patient, nonjudgmental listener to hear their heart, and point them towards His love- we will be available for His service.

“The Lord listens and heeds when I call to Him (Psalm 4:3b).

“Listen to my words, O Lord, give Heed to my sighing and groaning” (Psalm 5:1).

“Yes, I know You always hear and listen to Me” (John 11:42a).