The 1995 British Telecom advert, fronted by Bob Hoskins said that it’s good to talk; and this week ‘all the talk’ has been about the Harry and Meghan interview with Oprah Winfrey.
If my memory serves me right, I think that this is the first time in 12 months where the ‘lead story’ in the news bulletins has not been about Coronavirus!
So, this is ‘one conversation’ that’s got everybody talking – it’s divided opinions up and down the country and across the world; and even resulted in Piers Morgan walking away from GMTV!!
Whatever your opinion, the principle of ‘talking’ when you are struggling is really important. Very often, when reflecting on a situation that perhaps hasn’t ended well, many would respond with ‘why didn’t they say something’? Many have struggled to cope because of feeling isolated, and while talking to someone doesn’t necessarily make your problems go away, it is reassuring to know that you don’t have to struggle on your own – help is at hand.
I love to read of many of the conversations that Jesus had with different people when He was on the earth, and the Gospel of John is full of such ‘conversations’ – with Nicodemus, the Woman at the Well, the man born blind, Mary and Martha, the 12 disciples as they shared a meal with Jesus before His death, with Mary in the Garden, with Peter and so on. But there was one conversation that came to mind from the Old Testament, from the book of 1 Samuel. Hannah, in chapter 1, came to God ‘in deep anguish, crying bitterly’, her request was to be able to have a son. God answered her prayer and Samuel was born and she vowed, that if God did answer her prayer, she would ‘give Samuel back to God’, so that God could use Samuel – and He did!
In 1 Samuel 3, when young Samuel is told by Eli the Priest that God wanted to say something to him, he encourages Samuel to respond to God by saying, ‘Speak, Lord for your servant is listening’….
I find it really reassuring that while, at times, I have a lot I want to say to God, He wants to speak with me! Prayer is not a ‘one-way’ exercise – us bringing a ‘shopping list’ of things we need God to sort out on our behalf, but a wonderful opportunity for us to allow God to speak to us too! That’s why many of the Psalms keep reminding us to ‘be still in God’s presence’ in order for us to hear what God wants to say to us. Sometimes something ‘pops’ into our mind, sometimes it’s by reading the Scriptures, it might be through a worship song, or as someone preaches from the Word of God – the most important thing is to listen and act upon what we have heard.
Strong relationships are based upon good communication, and our daily relationship with Jesus is no different. As we come to God, we must always be ready for Him to speak to us. Sometimes, we wonder if God isn’t understanding us but maybe it’s because He can’t ‘get a word in edge-ways’!!
The Hymn-writer reminds us, ‘what a privilege it is to carry, everything to God in prayer’….. but as you pray, respond as Samuel did, and make sure you are listening to God as He speaks back to you!
‘It’s good to talk’….. and listen!!
Be encouraged!