By Lois Hewitt

Sometimes the world we live in gets really noisy. There are voices, some of them screaming, at every turn.

There are points of view you may not agree with or even understand.  Things so different from what you think.

You may be looking around and not recognizing the world.  It has changed so much since your years of youth.

Do you find you go to speak and it is as if your vocal chords have frozen?  You try to speak but not a sound is produced?  Or worse yet, you speak but no one can hear your words over the ever present worldly noise.

So you try and try again to speak and the words fall to the ground without ever reaching a single ear…or so you think.

Because we have unique experiences we, therefore, have unique thoughts and things we want to say.

I have come to realize that sometimes you have to swim upstream and that those who are swimming with the current will not understand you.

I have learned that not every single battle is worthy of the energy to fight it.  It is best to save your energy for the battles that matter.

We, as a society, are uncomfortable with silence. We have lost the ability to enjoy just being and not having to talk.  So the discomfort brings forth the never-ending noise of voices.

It’s okay to not speak much.  It’s ok to listen and observe.  Silence is a true gift to be savored.

But when the time comes to speak and be heard, pray.  Jesus hears our words and even knows the ones we fail to speak. He listens with an intensity unparalleled by humankind.

Not speaking, in some circles, is a sign of weakness. But nothing could be further from the truth.  Holding your tongue is a super power very few have this day. And when you do speak, your words are almost always heard.

But the best conversations are between you and Jesus. He does reciprocate, just in different ways so you must be aware and of a discerning spirit.

If you are troubled by the sense that you are not being heard.  Be comforted knowing Jesus hears all you say. He longs to hear from you, in fact,  He requires speaking (aka praying) from those who believe in Him.

Prayer is the most important conversation you can ever participate in.

So if you feel unheard, talk to the One who is excited to hear from you.

Do not be discouraged by the world today. Times have changed, they always do.  Ideas shift and sway, that is also always true.

Standing firm in your convictions and speaking the truth may not win you earthly friends but you can be assured that Jesus is thrilled with you.

Remember always that you are not alone. The connection to Jesus is forever open. He promised to be with you and He will be always. Talk to Him.