Do you ever need someone to listen to you?

 “I just need someone to talk to and listen to me,” I said to myself when I was distraught. I suspect you can relate.

Have you ever had a friend who is a good listener? What a valued and rare gem to have that kind of friend! Reliable, non judgmental listeners are hard to find.  As a matter of fact, I have only a few.  But when I share with them and am heard, I go away feeling refreshed, strengthened and validated.

A friend, who is an excellent listener, gives you time, stopping from their tasks to make undivided consideration of your conversation. It is a safe place when I a friend tunes into our words.

 We all want to be heard with compassion, especially when sharing our grief story or another kind of anguish. Telling our story provides a way to process it. Retelling our story helps us even though at the times it is painful to retell it. What an extraordinary gift for an attentive person to be in your circle.

Friends listen with compassion

In way of a definition, listening has the connotation of understanding, not just hearing a sound but hearing the meaning, giving thoughtful consideration. That kind of listening is what we crave.

Good listener seek to understand

Besides human companions, we have a companion in our loving God, offering us an open door with reassurance that we will be heard.

            “When you call me and come and pray to me, I will listen to you” (Jeremiah 29:12 CEB).

Coming to God in prayer is holding a conversation with God. That is all prayer is-a conversation.

A summons is open for us to pour out our dreams, burdens, and emotions to the One who loves us unconditionally. 

Not only can we share, we are free to ask questions, wonder why, and express deep heartache. It is okay to express our doubt. It is okay to wrestle in prayer and yes, expressing our feelings may involve anger, even yelling. God attends to our prayers in the car on the way to work in rush hour, when we are frazzled with the kids, when we are anxious and in the dark when we can’t sleep.

 An invitation to come

Frequently, we make prayer too formal. Sometimes, it is difficult to get the words out or other times we do not think we are worthy. No matter how you perceive ourselves, we are welcomed into the throne room.

Regularly, I scribble my heavenward conversations in a journal because the verbal words don’t come easily, or my mind wanders when I pray silently. My writing may be messy because I am messy, I don’t concern myself with complete sentences or correct grammar. I scribe words from my heart, filling pages. I innumerate my gratitude for the good things in my life, following up with a list of my concerns with specific requests. Writing my messages down on paper, helps me leave my burdens, helps me to let go. Trust seems simpler when I write my prayers.

When we go to the throne, God said, “I will listen to you.” Wow! Our Heavenly Father takes notice of our words and our silent appeals, even our wordless cries. Heaven hears our tears. God hears. An old rabbinic prayer contains a phrase taken from Psalms 116:2,“He bends down low to hear our prayers.”

We need not be concerned about understanding, for God’s understanding in infinite including mundane apprehensions and the huge worries. 

God hears

“Prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God,” Teresa of Avila

We share, God listens.

I found it easier to think about speaking to Jesus, like a friend, rather than imagining myself praying to God Almighty. Thinking of Jesus as a friend  seems casual, comforting and life-giving. No need to pretend, no need to figure out long sophisticated prayers, no need to hide parts of my life.

Prayer is friendship with God

In particular, I am reminded of an old hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”.

Dear one, find a quiet place, share your heart with Jesus because he listens. Invite Jesus to sit with you for coffee; he is your empathic, caring friend.

Prayer:

Sweet Jesus,

Thank you for the open door to come and thank you for listening. You listen with compassion, empathy and understanding. Enable us to share our every burden and grief with you. Even give us the words to say when we think we have no words. Catch our tears when we cry. Bend down low and listen.

In the name of the One who gave himself for us,

Amen

Lyrics to “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
  Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
  Take it to the Lord in prayer;

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
  Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
  Thou wilt find a solace there.

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Charles Crozat Converse / Joseph Scriven / David Sparkman

What a Friend We Have in Jesus lyrics © Word Music Llc, Universal Pictures Music, Jrm Music, Stamps Quartet Music Company, Integrity Worship Music, Media Pulpo, Leadworship Songs, Silverline Music, Word Music, Llc