The Hard Work of Listening
Hello friend, let me share something with you.
Recently, Jesus asked me to step out of my comfort zone and take on a role of leadership that I felt very ill-equipped to undertake. Old names and identifiers quickly came to my mind in the face of this new opportunity: “failure, not qualified, imposter.”
I quickly realized that these old names were not coming from Jesus and that I didn’t have to listen to the voice of my accuser! I rejected them in the power of Jesus’ name!
The path to a new identity, as illustrated by Jacob’s journey, is not passive. It requires intentional effort and a willingness to engage with God’s leading. The first step in Jacob’s transformation was the hard work of listening to God’s direction. God’s instruction was clear and direct: "Go back to the land of your fathers and your relatives.” (Genesis 31:3, NIV).
This command required Jacob to confront the very relationships he had fractured through his past actions. The old “opportunist” Jacob, driven by self-preservation, would have likely dismissed this instruction, fearing the consequences of returning.
However, the “new Jacob,” the one beginning to be shaped by his encounter with God, chose obedience. This highlights a crucial aspect of transformation: the willingness to step outside our comfort zones and embrace the often-challenging path God sets before us.
Listening to God’s direction is not always easy. It requires us to quiet the noise of our own fears, desires, and preconceived notions. It demands a posture of humility and a willingness to surrender our own agendas. Are there areas in your life where you sense God’s gentle prompting, a call to reconciliation or a new direction, but you are hesitant to obey due to fear or resistance?
friend, listen to this verse that is SO important for all of us who are listening to God's voice to direct us, even when the direction may be challenging!
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” (Isaiah 30:21, NIV)
Jacob listened to that voice and he walked the way that God told him to go, even though I am sure he felt afraid and ill-equipped. What allowed Jacob to follow in obedience was that he knew that God would walk with him!
My friend, examine your heart and ask for discernment to hear God’s voice clearly. Consider what “hard work of listening” God might be calling you to in this season. It might involve mending a broken relationship, stepping out in faith towards a new opportunity, or simply being still and allowing God to speak into your heart.
No matter what He asks you to do, He is with you every step of the way.
I would love to pray for you right now.
Father, grant us both a listening heart, one that is attuned to your gentle whispers in the middle of the noise of the world and my own anxieties. Give us the courage to obey your directions, even when they seem difficult or counterintuitive. Help us to trust that your path, though challenging, leads to true healing and transformation. Amen.
Never forget my friend…
You are a miracle!
