A Child’s Cry

I just couldn’t seem to get that cry out of my head.

1 Samuel 3:1-21

Reference: v.10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (TNIV Bible)

Explore: Some mothers will tell you that they can identify the cry of their baby. If they are in a room full of children and their offspring starts to wail, they are able to tell if they need to respond or not.

My four-year-old foster child has a very distinct cry. It takes ages for my heart to stop racing when I am awoken in the middle of the night by that distraught scream.

For the first couple of nights that scream would enter my dreams and I would suddenly wake, only to discover that it was only in my mind. I just couldn’t seem to get that cry out of my head.

We all went to the park a few weekends ago and I was suddenly alerted to the cry of my child. I looked up, scouring the park for my child, only to find him happily playing on the swings. He was chatting away to some other children while the cry continued to sound across the park.

It seems that my four-year-old’s cry is not unique! I was relieved to see another parent scurrying to the aid of their blubbering child while mine contently played on.

Application: Samuel was so special to God that He audibly called out his name. While he was special to God, Samuel didn’t even recognise God’s voice! But that did not deter God from persisting with communicating with His special child.

I must admit that there are times when I don’t identify God’s voice as well. It’s not until I look back on situations that I can see where God was speaking and leading.

In Samuel’s time it was rare for God to speak to His followers, and yet, now God is able to communicate with us through so many different ways.

We all have access to the Bible, which gives us many messages from God, as well as words from other people, and God communicating directly to us through prayer, dreams and thoughts. Sometimes His voice is not completely clear and we head in the wrong direction.

But just as God persisted with Samuel so, too, does He persist with us. It is in our best interest to listen out for God’s voice and be willing to respond whenever He calls.

Prayer: Lord, there are often long periods of time between hearing Your voice. May I be faithful with the words I do hear from You and open to hearing Your voice again. Amen.

When was the last time you felt that God communicated with you? What was it about, and how has it changed your life?

 

1 Samuel, babies, call, children, cry, prayer, voice