He Answers Before We Call
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Isaiah 65:23b,24 NIV
For they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.
Zechariah 13:9 NASB
They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, "They are My people,'
And they will say, "The LORD is my God.'
I don’t know about you, but I spend an inordinate amount of time telling God what I need. I truly believe that God will provide everything I need, and always has. So that’s the paradox. Before we call out – God already answers us – we don’t even to verbalize what is in our hearts at 2 a.m.! And before we begin to speak the words of remorse or regret, sorrow or grief, He hears us, comforts us, and sustains us. And he hears our words of praise and gratitude before they are formed on our lips.
We have the Bible to confirm that God truly is in close communication and involvement with us. Time and time again, God demonstrated His omnipotence to men and women in history. And today, He continues to provide us indisputable proof that He is more than a friend, and more than a parent. I am reminded of the commercial that was broadcast a few months ago about the importance of colo-rectal exams for men in their 50’s. This particular ad had the man’s wife attached to his back, so she literally went with him everywhere. The commercial indicated she would stay there until he had an exam.
I hope that’s not too graphic for anyone, but it certainly depicts the type of relationship God has with us and longs for us to rely upon, trust in, and seek after. Of course, He is not a burden, nor a weight on our backs. He is the source of all comfort and peace. His constant, loving presence is affirmed every time we experience one of those “coincidences” that we know could only be God intervening in our lives – God-incidences.
The verse from Zechariah offers us a glimpse of the mutuality of a relationship with God. He longs for us to call to Him and to rest in Him. He longs to be recognized for what He is – our sustenance and our sufficiency. And we call out to Him in our need – a need that is inherent in us at conception – that longing of the created for the creator. Baby birds cry out to their parents for food – the parent knows they need food – it’s not news to them! And yet we call out to God, and He knows we will – and he rejoices because the cycle begins and continues, generation after generation, until the end of time.
My prayer today is that you call out to your God. And that you trust He will answer before you call, and hear while you are still speaking.
Mary
