LISTEN!

It has been said that God gave us two ears and one mouth because He wants us to listen twice as much as we talk. 

In my experience of life I can honestly say I haven’t yet come across many people who listen and listen well. Most of us tend to listen so that we can give an answer rather than listen in order to understand. 

When someone is grieving having experienced a tragic event in their lives, we must learn to try and listen rather than try to give all the right answers. 

James encourages us “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;”… James 1:19 ESV 

Scripture reminds us that when words are plentiful, sin and folly are never far away. e.g Prov 10:19

People who are suffering more often than not just need a listening ear. I was grateful last year to receive some counselling and again more recently. The first time I resisted for a long time but in the end I came to the realisation that I needed to talk to someone outside of my own family and friends. 

Counsellors are there to listen so we can let off steam without being judged, without receiving a multitude of words that would somehow fix it all. 

The listening ear was what I needed. We’re not all counsellors but we do all have two ears and one mouth. 

Job’s friends started off well…

 “Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.” Job 2:11-13 

They can be applauded because…

1 They came to him - made appointment 

2 They empathised - sympathy and comfort 

3 They spent time - Seven days and nights 

However, it didn’t last long and in the proceeding chapter they each give lengthy speeches to the point where Job comes to the end of himself and exclaims  “I have heard many such things;miserable comforters are you all.” Job 16:2 

Do you have someone in your life who just wants to be with you?  Do you take time yourself to listen to others rather than trying to ‘fix’ them? Let’s all take the time to listen more, especially with those who have suffered greatly. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you are quick to listen to us. You are ever ready to hear our complaints and hear our hearts. Help us to be the same with others. Help us to give people room. Help me to be more appreciative of those who have sat and listened to me. Amen