Does God Really Listen?

Listen, my precious daughter,

 

Do you know how much I love you?

Do you know how beloved I see you?

Do you believe how deeply I know you?

Do you believe how clearly I hear you?

Your cries, your questions, 

your curiosities, your concerns,

I hear them all.

It is my delight to hear you call.

When you pour out your heart,

whether in praise or confession,

confusion or profession,

whether with confidence or feeling condemnation,

I'm listening.

I'm listening when you're worried,

I'm listening when you're whining.

I'm listening when you're content

and when you're stressed and pining.

I'm listening when your joy is full

and when your peace is perfect.

I'm listening when you're scared and nervous

because your path seems uncertain.

I'm always listening.

Not because I'm looking for your failures

or scouting out your faults.

I'm not planning my rebuttal

or rehearsing my defense and righteous laws.

I'm never preoccupied with what you might say next.

My focus is never anywhere else but in the present.

With you.

I'm just listening.

I'm listening because I love you.

Because I care for you.

Because I delight in you.

Because I'm committed to you.

I listen because I need you to know that I am with you,

for you.

That I see you--

not just what you do but who you are.

(I have always known you;

who you were then, 

who you are now,

who you are becoming.

It is my joy to see you.)

Sure, I could take a spectator's seat in the nosebleed section.

I could watch you from afar in the stands.

But I don't ever want to be far from you.

I want to be near, standing with you.

Walking beside you.

Listening to your heart.

And if you share with me,

there's nothing you can say 

that will ever change the way 

I feel about you.

But what you share may

very well change the way

you feel about me.

So pour out your heart to me, precious one!

Sing, shout, whisper, wail.

My ears are tuned to your cries.

Your voice is my joy when you call.

So speak, sweet child.

Then take a turn,

and 

listen.

Love,

Your Listening God

*     *     *

The Good Lord stirred this letter in my heart in response to the prompt "How I...Listen" at Elise's inspiring new"How I...Community." If you haven't read this girl, you need to. 

I'm also blessed to link up with wonderful heart sisters, Jennifer and Holly.