Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”
1 Samuel 3:10
I’m waiting
listening
my heart is yearning
to hear
the whisper of Your voice.
To feel Your breath
upon my shoulder
and I’m reaching
seeking
as the breeze
whispers through the trees.
I know
in the depths of my being
it is You
whispering my name.
Beckoning me
come
be still and know
You are here
You alone
can calm and comfort
with just a
whisper.
~Marcie Bridges
©2018
I’ve been in a mood of frustration lately. Just all the time. Every day. Too many things vie for my attention. Too many troubles surround me. I can honestly say, I feel a bit like King David when he laments to the Lord in so many of his psalms.
There are days I just crumble. I give up the fight and go down into the pit. I don’t even try to wrestle. I don’t try to nestle (as my sweet friend Nan calls it) with my Lord. I let myself wallow and worry.
But lately I have heard Him calling to me. Calling me to rest. Calling me to be still. Calling to me to listen to Him.
I have two choices. I can respond with a no, or I can respond as Samuel did the first time he heard God calling to him:
And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”
I was recently at a conference and was able to spend a very short but wonderful time with a dear sister-friend. Her words were so comforting and encouraging. But one thing that strikes me is her ability to hear the Lord in the moment.
She says when she can’t sleep, she often says, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.” And she begins to pray. Some nights she spends the night just praying. 
So as we stood in the hallway chatting, my friend started just speaking to my heart of the things she felt the Lord telling her in that very moment for me. And what an absolute blessing it was. I do not think I will ever forget that sweet few minutes with her.
Today as I spent the day questioning the Lord, just questions after questions, I am sure I heard Him say, “Calm down. Be quiet. Listen.”
It’s okay to ask questions. God can handle every question and frustration we have. But at some point, it’s time to be quiet and listen to His answers.
And it’s so hard to hear if we never quit talking. Paul says to be quick to hear and slow to speak. I think that applies just as much to our time with the Lord as it does with those around us.
Tonight, as I lay down, my head upon my pillow, I will say, “Speak Lord. Your servant is listening.”
How about you? Do you need to stop wrestling and just listen?
From My Heart to Yours,
Marcie
Pictures courtesy of Unsplash.com
Oh, it is of utmost importance to simply be quiet with the Lord and listen. How can we hear Him if we’re the ones doing all the talking?
Great post and poem as always, Marcie.
Blessings!
I absolutely love, love, LOVE this post! I think it resonates with so many of us. Thank you for your transparency.
Marcie, I am very encouraged by your post. God has been trying for some time to get me to learn how to consistently be still, know He is God, and listen. I have been getting better at it but, like you, I often get frustrated. I tend to want to attack my problems until they go away, and drone on and on to God about them, how I am trying to make sense of them, how I think they could be solved, when all He wants me to do is to shut up, listen, and do what He tells me to do. Many times I feel like God is just patiently waiting to get a word in and give me direction and I don’t let Him. Then I get upset when it doesn’t seem He is moving to help me. I very much like how you show us that sometimes being swift to hear and slow to speak should apply to our prayer life.
Hi Chris, I am too learning all of this. It astounds me how much I learn, then have to re-learn in my Christian walk. Learning to listen more and speak less is one of those lessons that I am continually working on too. I’m so happy this has ministered to you. Thank you for visiting, Marcie 🙂