“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”
Psalm 116:1-2
This is another one of those Psalms that, if you have time, I’d recommend reading through. It’s a song of rescue and healing, and trust in the midst of fear – and who doesn’t need that?
The first two verses are about God hearing us – which I think we all know deep down is true, but sometimes I think we forget to talk to God in the first place.
When you have a problem, or something or someone is getting you down, where do you go first?
To a friend? A spouse? A confidant?
How often do you mull over something internally until you are exhausted or it affects you mentally and physically?
We do this all the time.
But this psalm reminds us that God hears us.
God has claimed us and named us and will listen.
“God has turned his ear to me”
What a phrase this is!
You know that moment when you think you hear something and say “shh, listen!” and then you tilt your head, or turn it towards the sound so you can hear it better?
That’s what this psalmist says God does for us when we speak.
The word “turned” in Hebrew is “natah” which means turn, extend, incline.
Isn’t that a beautiful image to have of God?
Turning his ear toward us to better hear what we have to say?
So say it.
Don’t hold back.
Are you stressed about something?
Is there something in your life that is bringing you grief or anxiety?
Tell God all about it.
Vent, cry, yell, hurt, ask for help.
Bring all of it to God.
Because God has promised to hear us.
God hears our prayers, our fears, our anger, our joys, our sadness and our anxiety.
God hears it all, and God can handle it all.
There is no grief or anger or stress that is bigger than God.
There is no illness, anxiety, or fear that God can’t take.
Trust that when you talk to God, you are heard.
God is listening, so speak.
No flowery language or “right” words needed.
Just be you. Be honest.
And God will hear you, and be with you.
“And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:15)