Listening

I’m not sure how to start this post and to be honest with you I don’t even feel like writing right now but I feel like I need to get this out.


Lately I have been feeling alone. I know that I am not alone but I feel alone. I enjoy going to church so I go but more often than not I go alone. Most times this doesn’t bother me but with Easter right around the corner it’s really getting to me. I want to be able to celebrate Christ’s resurrection with friends and family but this year I’m afraid it might not be happening. I’m scheduled to work Sunday afternoon making it difficult to get home to go to church with my family and here in Chapel Hill most of my friends either are going home or don’t seem interested. This makes me a little sad but this isn’t what this post is about. That’s just the background story of what I really want to talk about...which is listening.

So as you know from what I’ve said above I was feeling a little down and I thought I’d feel a little better if I just talk to someone about it. But you wouldn’t believe how difficult it was to find someone willing to give me their listening ear for 30 minutes, or maybe you can, I don’t know. Well it might have been a little easier if I wasn’t so selective on who I was willing to talk to but that’s a different story. Out of the handful of people I wanted to talk to I finally did get one person to listen. However, I didn’t get this person’s attention until after I persistently asked for their time. It got to the point to where I felt like they only gave in and listened because they thought I was being impudent and giving in and listening would be the only way to get me to go away. Despite that, I’m grateful for the time this person provided me, as I did feel slightly better afterwards. But I don’t think I reaped the real benefits of our conversation until today.

For those of you who know me well you know that I am an extremely bold, forward and persistent young lady. If I want something I’m going to go after it and won’t give up until I’ve tried my hardest at whatever I’m trying to accomplish. Unfortunately, this can come across as annoying when it comes to relationships with people. If I want to talk to someone or get their attention I will call them or text them as much as it takes to get them to answer and the first two things out of my mouth are “are you mad at me?” and “are you annoyed with me?” hahahah. They’re really rhetorical questions as I’m pretty sure I know the answer. It’s just my way of saying please don’t be annoyed I’m just a very forward and persistent person by nature :)

Anyways I’m getting off track...So during our conversation we talked about prayer and how it changes things. I might not be able to see the changes right away but it does work and will help my situation. So today as I was getting ready to pray about my situation I thought I’d do a little reading on prayer from the Bible first. Here is the point of the post...are you ready for it? God answers prayers.

Less than 10% of Christians have a vibrant active prayer life. This is sad because prayer changes things and God answers prayers. He might not answer right away but if our prayers are bold and persistent they will be answered. Unlike my excessive texting and calling (sorry!), no matter how much I pray or knock at God’s door I will never be seen as being impudent. God is always willing to listen especially when it feels like no one else will. He will never be annoyed with our prayers. He loves us and encourages the persistence. Prayer should come naturally like breathing.

Now keep in mind just because you aren’t getting exactly what you are praying for doesn’t mean He isn’t answering your prayers. God is good. He knows more than we do and what we think is best for us may not be what He KNOWS is best for us.

Prayer works! You won’t be annoying...so do it!

Thank you again to the person who took the time to listen, you helped more than you probably realize :)