Be still, and know that I am God. — Psalm 46:10
The words still ring in my ears even to this day: “listen to me.” It seems I heard those words a lot growing up as I was a pretty rambunctious child. My parents would tell me things and often I would choose to ignore them.
I was too busy doing the things I wanted to do. I did not have time to slow down and listen to what they were saying. I may ask questions or look for information, but when they tried to answer I was too busy and often missed what they may have said.
Now, I find myself in the same situation with my own child. Many times he may ask a question and as I go to answer, he runs in a different direction. I try to give him instruction and help, but he chooses to do his own thing. I find myself saying those same words “listen to me.”
I often wonder how many times God has wanted to pull me aside and simply say those words as I choose to do my own thing. Perhaps I’ve asked Him to intervene in a situation or to help with something, but then I go about it on my own and refuse to just simply slow down and wait for His response and help.
Sometimes He has forced me to slow down. Just like a parent may take their child and cause them to listen for a few moments, God has let certain things happen in my life where I have learned if I would simply have stopped and listened to Him, the situation would have been much better.
The problem is that our human nature is to go about things on our own. We live in a world that tells us to do it ourselves, where no one wants to stop and take a few moments to help us. That differs greatly from the response that God gives us.
God tells us that He cares for us and He wants to help us. Sometimes He simply wants us to listen to Him. That may involve waiting or patience that we seem to often struggle with. In those times, God simply wants us to be still and recognize who He really is.