Posted By Christina M on March 8, 2021

The vast majority of us like to talk more than we like to listen. A lot of time, listening looks a lot more like waiting to speak. As we grow in maturity, we learn to shut our mouths and listen to others with interest, even when we’re not really interested in what the other one is saying. And maybe it’s insecurity at times, but there’s also truth in it: everyone we talk to is sometimes shutting their mouths and listening with interest, even when they are not interested in what we are saying.

So why would we avoid the one Person who actually listens to every word we say?

It’s hard to pinpoint why, exactly, it is, but prayer is hard sometimes. Even for someone who actively wants to follow her faith and have that relationship. Obviously, it is much harder for someone who feels alienated from God. But it’s sad, and in many ways illogical. We spend our whole lives hurting, wishing for someone to really listen to every word, and to care about what we are saying. The biggest loneliness isn’t being alone, but feeling unheard. We have an omnipotent, omniscient friend who is not almost always, but literally always, ready to listen. Yet we keep on feeling lonely and looking for someone to make us feel heard. Maybe not all the time, but for all of us at least some of the time. For some, all the time.

Maybe it’s because we don’t trust that He will really listen and really care. We feel awkward, not hearing replies, and want Him to stop listening and reply, so that we may have proof. Or maybe it’s because we feel alienated, even if we have faith and do all the right things. Perhaps we are aware we can’t do all the right things, because we sin and fall short of the glory of God.

False humility might tell me I am the worst of sinners, or false pride might tell me I’m just where I need to be, but both are wrong. The fact is I sin, but I am not the worst of sinners. Nor does it matter if there are sinners worse than me. That’s none of my business. No matter where I am in my relationship with Him, He is ready to listen fully. Even when I have trouble believing it, I at least know it mentally. And even when I have trouble approaching Him, He is still approachable.

We can feel hurt or angry when we talk to others and they spend the whole time waiting for us to finish so they can talk, but we can feel hurt or angry at God for not doing that. We go through life looking for someone to listen to us, when God is right there wanting to listen. Loving to listen. It may feel difficult sometimes to ramble at Him, when we know He is perfect and we are not; but He already knows our imperfections, so we aren’t telling Him anything He doesn’t already know. Pardon me for saying it, but He has already seen all of the embarrassing, mean, ugly, and dull things we’ve done. There’s nothing you or I can say that can disgust or bore Him more than the things He’s already seen.

So make the time talk to someone who likes the sound of your voice as much as you do. No, much more than you do.

Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: loneliness, prayer