For me, it is sometimes hard to see the Word of God active and alive in the world. There are conflicts and wars and pandemics and it all just seems to be too much. All of these noises and distractions can drown out all the signs of the Word and that Still, Small Voice.
But it does not drown it out completely. The Word and The Voice are steady and strong, if I take a Selah breath and listen. If I pause the video and stop bringing up the TikTok and the YouTube views and playing on the PlayStation, I can hear His Voice and feel His Presence. In this space, I can think back through the day’s events and see God’s Word at work.
I see it in the interactions I have at work with customers (even frustrated ones) and my co-workers. We celebrate each other more, I think, than when we could be physically in the same space together. This week we are helping a coworker to raise funds for her daughter’s sports trip to Europe next summer.
I see it when we meet up with family, in spite of some differences in opinion around the Pandemic. We can interact with and appreciate one another. My brother-in-law was rather talkative at our last gathering. It was good to chat him up and hear about his life.
I see it as we are helping my mother-in-law find a new place in town. Really, this effort has all been on my wife and mom-in-law as they look around town at the many communities available, but I’ve tried to step it up and make dinner more often and keep up the chores as they look.
And I see God’s Word alive in the people around me. The way they have hearts for people and joy in life in spite of the trials they face. Like the terrific people of our church body when they love on each other and the community we serve.
What it all comes down to, for me, anyway, is going back to Matthew 22:37-40, which, in the briefest of terms is: Love God, Love People. When I feel like I’m not hearing God, or the world is just too much, I try my best to love God and the people I interact with. And, I feel for myself, this brings me in alignment with God enough that I start to hear Him again and to feel His Presence.
Take care of yourselves and take care of those you interact with on a daily basis and, I believe, you will start to hear more clearly from God.
Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
About the Author
Mark lives in Oregon with his lovely wife, Darla and enjoys reading, writing, playing games and working to make the world a better place. He currently serves CitySalt church as a sound engineer and on the church council.