Noticing God in Chaos: 5 Prayers for Tired ParentsSample

Listening

Listening shape-shifts throughout parenting seasons. We learn to interpret what our newborn’s different cries mean, translate our toddler’s garbled requests that no one else can understand, and decipher our teen’s eye rolls and door slams.

Listening—honest, humble, heartfelt listening—is a pivotal discipline. It plays a part in staying connected to our children—and staying connected to God, too.

Maybe you’re thinking the same thing I’ve wondered: How do I get quiet enough to listen to God in the cacophony of my actual life? I’m a parent!

Listening to God comes in many ways. Just as our natural seasons change, so do the ways we hear God. Of course, there is value in quieting ourselves in prayer and turning to Scripture, but maybe our extraordinary God is in the soundtrack of our ordinary lives too—the giggle of a daughter as she pops iridescent bubbles one by one, the triumphant shout of a son as he cheers on his teammates from the bench.

Maybe, when you’re paying attention, you’ll hear God in the fallen leaves crunching under your sneakers as you bring in groceries, or you’ll catch a divine whisper in the whoosh of a cool wind bringing with it an autumn chill. And you’ll become awake to the symphony of love surrounding you in the soft snore of a baby, the deep exhale of the school bus brakes letting you know the kids are home.

You’ll listen to creation point back to the Creator in the crackle and pop of an autumn bonfire, the pitter-patter of rain hitting your roof, a chorus of geese honking and hollering as they get in formation to fly south. You’ll hear the holy chatter of a squirrel, the drip of the first cup of coffee, the hiss of the tea kettle, and the thump and thrum of the heater kicking on for the first time.

When you practice a posture of listening to God in your daily comings and goings, what you hear might surprise you. God’s still small voice might not sound like what you expected—and may be exactly what you need.

And just as incredible, God listens to us too.

Just like a caring, connected parent does.

Reflection Questions:
What would it look like to listen to God this week?
How could you be a more active listener at work, at home, or at school?
What distracts you from hearing God in your everyday life?
How does it feel to know that God always hears your prayers?
How could you widen your definition of what it means to hear God?

Breath Prayer:
Inhale: O God, help me hear
Exhale: Your still, small voice.