“But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” – James 1:22 (NKJV)
Over dinner, Thom’s wife expressed her desire to separate after twenty years of marriage, now that the children were adults. The sudden request left him speechless and unable to continue his dinner. He immediately felt a surge of confusion and anger; his first thought was that she had found someone else.
He later joined her in the bedroom and confronted her: “Why wait until now to join him?” The statement caught her off guard, and an argument ensued. Mrs. Thom shouted, “I am not seeing anyone. I am just tired of you never listening to me.” “But I do listen,” he replied. “No, you don’t,” she said, “because you would have heard my cry for help and did something to change it.”
Believers, Christ is speaking to us similarly, and we are not actively listening to what is being said; many of God’s sheep are crying for help. Are you hearing? Do you act on what you hear? Or are you comfortable with your own earthly achievements?
Thom went before God and asked Him, “When did my wife speak, and I did not listen?” After some time, Thom received James 1:22 for an answer. He allowed the Scripture to minister to him for a long while, and finally realised his mistake: all this time, he had never truly been actively present in the conversation with his wife. He was always focused on himself and not on her needs. Thom realised that he had become comfortable in his wife’s presence and had taken her for granted.
Believers, let us not fail to listen as God speaks to us. Let us strive to remain alert in His presence to receive His direction on what asks of us. Our wisdom is nothing without His input.
Thom apologised to his wife and saved his marriage.
Do you need to apologise to God?
God is counting on us to actively listen as he speaks in this season.
Read: Isaiah 30:21; John 10:27
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 115:1-11; Philippians 1:27-30; Philippians 2:1-11; Jeremiah 1; Jeremiah 2:1-30