God is always listening.

There have been times when I feel like God isn’t listening to me.  Like there is too much noise in this world for Him to hear me.

I pray and pray but to, what feels like, no avail.

I get frustrated, angry, despondent, and lose focus.  I start grabbing at straws. Then I get more frustrated and feel myself spiraling downwards.

I feel like the world is against me, hanging onto my shoulders trying to pull me down into the deepest darkest pit. I feel sorry for myself. I have a pity party, with the words “I am worthless” playing on repeat in my head.

Then God takes action.

He responds to an internal dialogue I have, and I am once again reminded just how awesome He is.

A week ago I was worried about something and thought that I had to make a plan.  While throwing the possible solutions and outcomes around in my mind, I quickly said to myself: God’s got this.  I then chose to leave it and carry on with what I needed to do. 

About 1.5 hours later, God sorted out my problem.  I hadn’t asked Him to.

I was in a similar boat just a few days ago, and again, God came through for me.

Does this sound familiar to you?

I sometimes feel like I am the only one that struggles and has challenges, but I know this isn’t true.  It is only a small handful of people who have the courage to speak up about their struggles.

We get so fixated on the ‘problem’.  Our vision becomes tunneled and we can’t see the solution, which is staring at us.

The scripture Numbers 6:25 comes to mind: “the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you”

He is the solution staring at us.  He is there to help us, comfort us, and give us His peace.  We only need to ask.

When I am in a bad space, feeling sorry for myself, I usually get a reminder to shift my focus.  Like last month, it was the bees.  And when I shift my focus everything changes.

What good does it do to focus on a problem?  It only makes it worse because you are so stuck in your head with your tunnel vision.  Focus needs to be shifted.  Take a step back, and look at the bigger picture.  Ask yourself the tough questions, and be honest with yourself.

This is not a one-size-fits-all kind of thinking.  I understand that we are all individuals on a journey that can be really tough at times.  That we face different giants at different times during our life.  I look at some people and wonder how they got through certain things that have happened to them, thinking that I would never be able to manage as they did. Then you get people who are worried about what colour lipstick they should buy. But when we chose to focus on God and what He has planned for us, we realise just how insignificant our challenges are.

And even with this realisation, I still struggle, and I know I will in the future.  But I also know how far I have come, the lessons that I have learned, and how God has never left me.

I often remind myself that God is on my side, that He has gone before me, and that He has a future planned for me.  I only need to be still.

So in my time of asking God to help me listen, He showed me that He listens.  He answered questions that I didn’t even ask Him.  I serve an amazing God.

Now, if God can do this for me if He cares this much about me, why wouldn’t He listen to you and help you?

Keeping it simply raw and real.

Your sister in Christ.

Exodus 14:14

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.