Stop and Listen

I used to try to help my dad work on our cars. I use the word “help” loosely because I am not very mechanically inclined; even so, Dad would patiently explain what he was doing and why. One thing I remember is that he very often would stop talking and, after motioning me to be quiet, listen to the sound the engine was making. After listening for a time, he would begin to make adjustments to correct whatever problem he had diagnosed. It was almost like the engine was telling him what was wrong.


Psalm 62
⁵ I wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.⁷ My salvation and my honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.


David was a man of many words, as evidenced by the book of Psalms. He used words to paint pictures and provide instruction in things related to God. In some of the Psalms, it is almost like he is arguing with or questioning the direction given by God. In this passage, we find that David also knew when to stop talking and listen – listen for the still small voice that is God.


One of the things I miss about living in a more rural setting is the quiet. It seems that there is constant noise and commotion all around, making it difficult to find a time and place to escape all of the hustle and bustle. Our society has become so fast paced and “now” oriented that there never seems to be an opportunity for down time. One of the outcomes of this type of existence is the never-ending sound of “progress.” Even our interpersonal relationships have come to the point that they are unable to survive silence. We have difficulty just being with someone and enjoying their company without the constant flow of words.


Even though David recognized the fact that God and God alone was able to protect and sustain him, he was able to stop and wait for the Lord to give him direction. Unlike today’s Christian, he was able to take time to just sit in the presence of the Father and listen. The Bible tells us that it is not always the spectacular and the ostentatious that carries God’s message – it is often the still, small voice that can only be heard by a heart focused on the source of all wisdom. Many times, the message is for us to sit quietly and wait.


Like my dad working on cars, we have to eliminate as much of the background distraction as possible and focus on the source of our information to hear what we need to hear. The answers we need don’t always come immediately. There are times that we must wait for a while before that which we seek becomes audible. Like David, our hope must be in God. We must recognize that He alone can protect us and guide us in the quiet times, just as He does in the midst of battle.


We serve an awesome God!!!!!