One thing is certain: whether as a parent, a husband, or just a person trying to make it through the day, listening is harder than it sounds—at least for me.
Too often, communication is treated as if it’s mostly about talking. Spoiler: it’s not. The older I get, the more I find that real communication is about slowing down long enough to actually hear. And that’s hard—really hard.
Anyone with kids knows what I mean. You’re trying to tell them something, but they’re absorbed in whatever’s in front of them. You ask, “Did you hear what I said? Are you listening?” and all you get is the classic blank stare.
Sometimes it feels like we’re speaking different languages. Think Charlie Brown’s teacher—there’s sound, but it’s all just wah wah wah.
Recently, my wife and I spent three weeks traveling through Europe—four countries, multiple cities, about 14,000 miles. One of the first things that struck me was how many languages surrounded us. French, Italian, Spanish, German—and several I couldn’t even identify.
As someone who grew up speaking only English, it’s easy to assume the world communicates the same way I do. But while we were traveling, I learned quickly not to make that assumption. Before starting a conversation, I’d ask, “English?” Sometimes the answer was yes, sometimes no.
That simple pause—checking first, instead of assuming—reminded me that communication only really works when both people understand each other. It’s a two-way exchange: speaking, hearing, understanding.
That idea brought to mind the story of young Samuel in the Bible. Living in the temple with Eli, he heard someone calling his name one night. He ran to Eli, assuming it was him. It wasn’t. After a few rounds of this, Eli realized what was actually happening—God was the one calling Samuel.
I love that story because it hits close to home. How often do we hear something and assume it must be God… when it isn’t? Or maybe God is speaking, but we’re too distracted, too hurried, or too surrounded by noise to recognize His voice.
As I walked through Europe’s crowded streets, voices filled the air—hundreds of them—but none of them were speaking to me. And even if they were, I wouldn’t have understood. It made me think: life can feel like that. So much noise, so much motion, so many voices… and in the middle of it, the still, small voice of God gets drowned out.
True communication—with people and with God—includes both speaking and listening.
That’s why Scripture so often repeats, “He who has an ear, let him hear.” It’s an invitation to slow down, to pay attention, to respond.
My prayer is that my ears—and my heart—stay open. That I’ll not only hear God’s voice but also understand it, even when the world around me feels like a swirling crowd of unfamiliar languages.
And maybe that’s the reminder for all of us—whether we’re talking with our kids, our spouse, or with God. The next time the noise gets loud, pause for a moment and ask, “Am I really listening?”
Because sometimes what we need most isn’t more words spoken.
It’s more quiet so we can finally hear what’s already being said.
Categories: Acts17seventeen Christian Christianity Community Follower Of Jesus obedience Prayer Travel
Pastor Mark
Mark, the eighth of nine children born to Reuben and Henrietta Meeks—dedicated church planters with nearly 30 congregations established across California’s Central Valley—is a preacher's kid who grew up immersed in faith and service. With over forty years of experience teaching, discipling, and ministering to communities, including the hospitalized and incarcerated, Mark responded to God's call to pastoral ministry. He holds degrees in civil engineering and public administration, as well as a Master’s in Theology from Fuller Seminary, equipping him to serve with both practical insight and spiritual depth.
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