Pray…and Listen – June 13, 1999

Pray…and Listen – June 13, 1999

In times of distress or anxiety, most of us find comfort in prayer.  Just as a child runs to his parents’ bedroom when a dark night turns frightening, we grown-ups turn to our Heavenly Father when we’re troubled or in pain.  We know the comfort sincere communion with our God can bring.  And most of us also find time to pray with others, whether blessing our families at bedtime or saying grace over a meal.  We pray for comfort, we pray in gratitude, and we know that God hears our prayers—and we find joy in uttering them.

We pray and we know our prayers are heard.  But how often do we wait for God to answer?  Do our prayers ever seem one-sided?  We cry for help but may not take time to listen for a response.  When we do, God’s still small voice whispers to our souls, and we can hear Him if we don’t drown that whisper in the noise and ruckus of everyday living.

A traveling salesman was driving down a highway one beautiful spring day.  He turned off the radio and said a silent prayer, thanking God for so many blessings.  As his exit approached, a tiny whisper spoke to his spirit, saying “don’t turn off.”  He decided to listen to that quiet prompting and drove on, not even sure where the road would lead.

A few miles farther down the highway, he saw two young hitchhikers.  He pulled the car over and picked up the hitchhikers.  He learned that the two young men had not eaten for days.  He found a roadside café and bought them a meal, then gave them some cash from his wallet and drove them farther down the highway.  As he dropped them off, one of the young men put his head inside the car window and said he had run away from home because he felt there weren’t any good people there.  He had planned to take his life but had finally found one good person.  And with tears in his eyes, the young man said, “Thank you.”

The salesman knew why God had whispered to him, and his heart was filled with gratitude that he had taken the time to listen.

We know God loves us and He wants us to communicate with Him.  And we know that His arms are stretched out for us in times of pain and difficulty.  If we take the time to listen when we pray, we can hear God whisper to our souls.

 

Program #3643