Have you ever had a time in your life when you really, really needed someone to just listen to you? As in REALLY listen, not just nod their head waiting for their turn to speak. Deep listening is an ability that some people never fully achieve in their lifetime. Maybe you know someone like that. Maybe you married someone like that.

The gift of having someone deep-listen to your heart is an amazing catharsis and a healing balm. Sometimes just being HEARD is therapy enough, even without the other person saying a single word. Your heart takes a deep cleansing breath with each word, and exhales frustration, sadness, angst, and heaviness with each syllable.

If you have someone who can listen to you like that, thank them for the blessing they give you.

If you can be someone who can listen to others like that, use your gift in God’s service. You are a blessing.

Psalm 68 (Common English Bible)

Lord, listen closely to me and answer me,
    because I am poor and in need.
² Guard my life because I am faithful.
    Save your servant who trusts in you—you! My God!
³ Have mercy on me, Lord,
    because I cry out to you all day long.
⁴ Make your servant’s life happy again
    because, my Lord, I offer my life to you,
⁵     because, my Lord, you are good and forgiving,
    full of faithful love for all those who cry out to you.

Nobody can listen to you the way that God can listen to you. God’s word assures us that when we cry out to him, he listens closely.

⁶ Listen closely to my prayer, Lord;
    pay close attention to the sound of my requests for mercy.
⁷ Whenever I am in trouble, I cry out to you,
    because you will answer me.

Are you in trouble? Cry out to your Heavenly Father. Nothing can compare to his works.

⁸ My Lord! There is no one like you among the gods!
    There is nothing that can compare to your works!
⁹ All the nations that you’ve made will come
        and bow down before you, Lord;
    they will glorify your name,
¹⁰     because you are awesome
    and a wonder-worker.
        You are God. Just you.

God is a wonder-worker. God is YOUR wonder-worker. Need someone to listen? Just talk.