“God’s Undivided Attention”
by Dianne Prince
“In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul” (Psalm 138:3, NKJV).
My grandson said, “Grammy, I was talking to you, and you didn’t answer me.” The truth of the matter is, I was pre-occupied with a cell phone conversation in the next room and did not hear his voice. By the time he joined me on the couch I had completed the phone call and was busy replying to a text message. He sat next to me and said, “Grammy, you are not listening to me.” It took deliberate effort and self-control to stop what I was involved with and give him my undivided attention.
We are creatures who were created to process only one conversation at a time, to perform one task at a time, and to handle one thought at a time. Our attention cannot be effectively divided among several people or things. That is how God designed us as human beings.
Jesus is the only one who can listen to each person individually and understand each person at the same time. He can handle people, nature, and circumstances all at once and not miss a request, not miss a desire, and not miss a need.
We always have God’s full attention. God always hears us. The Psalmist says as soon as we pray, not only does He hear us, but He answers us as well. His answer is either yes, no or wait. If the answer is no or wait, the psalmist goes on to say Jesus encourages us by giving us inner strength while we wait on God.
I am reminded of the Apostle Paul. He went to Jesus three times asking for his adverse situation to be removed. Each time Jesus told Paul God’s grace was sufficient to sustain Paul through the adversity. The answer was for Paul to endure the discomfort and rely on God’s grace daily to strengthen him spiritually.
Are you waiting for God to eliminate an adverse situation, resolve a lingering problem, or remove you from an uncomfortable environment? He knows. He sees. He hears you and His instruction is for you to abide in the discomfort with hope, to endure the distress with patience, and to persevere through the hardship until He moves. As you abide, know that you have God’s undivided attention. rely on His grace to get you through each day. He will encourage you by giving you strength to endure until your deliverance comes.
