The Lord Listens

DAILY READING

Psalm 116:1-5

¹ I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
    he heard my cry for mercy.
² Because he turned his ear to me,
    I will call on him as long as I live.

³ The cords of death entangled me,
    the anguish of the grave came over me;
    I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
⁴ Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    “Lord, save me!”

⁵ The Lord is gracious and righteous;
    our God is full of compassion.

FIELD NOTES

There is a song by Christian composer Mark Miller that our Sonshine choir sings from time to time, and it’s one of my favorites. The lyrics go something like this:

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining;
I believe in love even when I don’t feel it;
I believe in God even when he is silent.

In this world-changing moment, let us remember that our God is gracious and righteous and full of compassion, as the psalmist proclaims. He turns his ear to us and saves us in our time of need… even if we can’t see it immediately. The future is hopeful indeed! 

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• When have you felt that God remained silent? Do you remember when or how you felt God’s presence again after a period of silence?

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• What does it feel like to be silent for a long time?

PRAYER GUIDE

Loving God, you are with us always, even when we can’t hear you. In the midst of this culture-shift, we return to your loving arms. Hear our cry for assurance, and grant us your peace. Amen.  

40 DAYS: A LENTEN DEVOTIONAL

Our Discipleship Team has put together a 40-day devotional for you to ponder and reflect during Lent. You can read the devotional here through the Daily Field Guide starting March 7.