DEVOTION

I have talked with a lot of people during this time. The emotions range from thankfulness to anger to worry and everything in between. We can go from joy-filled one minute to stressed-out the next. 

For some, it is a dream to be home with their kids more or remotely working. For others, isolation and loneliness are too much to bear. Regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, there are times when you feel out of control, and there are a lot more noises and distractions to deal with. 

I am not oblivious to noise. With three little boys (2, 4, and 6 years old), we have always had a noisy and rambunctious household. When you add interruption to schedules and always being home to that mix, the volume level is … up there. 

While we are doing our absolute best to read all the words and sort all the colors, there are moments throughout the day when the noise takes over, and Mama just needs a little brain break. Screen time wins. I know you feel me.

On one particular day, we took a break from the action-packed, hero-filled shows and watched the new penguin nature movie on Disney+. What I did not expect while watching this show was how God would use the storyline to challenge me—to convict me. 

As the narrator shared general information about penguins, he explained that when the male and female penguins come back together after being apart for a long time, they are able to find their specific mate. With thousands of penguins squabbling, they can locate each other because they have memorized each other’s voices. They memorized the voice they needed to hear in the midst of the chaos.

This sentence stopped me in my tracks and caused me to ask myself: do I hear the voice of God in the midst of the noise of this season? Do I have his voice so ingrained in my memory that even with all of the distraction in the world around me, I can hear him?  

If I am honest, a lot of the time, the answer is no. Instead of leaning in to hear his voice, I fill the void with my own sounds. I allow myself to be distant and distracted and fill in the gaps myself. But I know better; I know his voice is always better than what I can come up with. I know his promises are always true. I know he wants to meet me right where I am. 

So, how do we hear God’s voice in the midst of the noise and distractions around us? Keep in mind, the way we learn to recognize it is the way we would any other relationship: by knowing him. 

We read in John chapter 10, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life.” Here are a couple of ways I have found to listen for his voice and have had to revisit in this season:

• Focus on the character of God. I have found that a way for me to pause the loud noises around me is to focus my attention on what is unchanging. We serve a God who is faithful and whose promises are true. I would encourage you to make a list of all the things you know are true about God. As you learn to identify who God is, you will be able to recognize his presence around you.
• Spend time getting to know God. The Bible is the best way to know and understand what God is asking you to do. We must know his truth, so we can understand what he wants from us. How are you spending time in God’s Word this season? I would encourage you to write out the things you are learning or verses that jump out at you.

Would you join me this week in finding time to silence the noise and make room for the God of peace to speak to you?

PRAYER

Jesus,

There are so many distractions in the world that take our focus away from you. Would you help me today to hear your voice in the midst of the noise of this season? Would you fill my heart with your peace? Deepen my relationship with you so I can recognize your leading in my life. I am so grateful you love me so much that you would invite me into conversation with you and that you care enough about us to hear our prayers even when we are so easily distracted.

Amen.

Jenny Sabiston

Crossings KIDS Early Childhood Director

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