A week ago my sister and I rented a 2007 movie, “August Rush,” the story of a newborn whose mother has been told he died at birth. After being raised in an orphanage, the boy runs away at the age of 11, looking for his parents.
Young Evan hears music in everything: rustling trees, rippling streams, honking horns, subway trains. He lands in the center of New York City but has no fear, finding joy in the many new sounds.
Befriending a boy who plays guitar in the park for donations, Evan follows him “home” to an abandoned old theater. Many orphans live together there under the questionable leadership of a Robin Williams character, Wizard, who lives off the money his young musicians bring to him. He’s a harmful father figure who sometimes abuses his young charges, but when he learns of Evan’s musical talent, he sees his own financial success.
One day Wizard and Evan (now stage-named August Rush) have a serious talk about the music around them. Evan says, “And only some of us can hear it?”
The irresponsible Wizard has a burst of wisdom and says, “Only some of us are listening.”
During the movie my mind jumped immediately from listening for music to listening for God. Many people say they’ve never heard God’s “voice”, even in their heads. They pray about problems but say the answers don’t come. Could it be, as Wizard puts it, that they aren’t listening?
What does it take to effectively listen to God? In my experience, 90% of successfully hearing him is being confident he’s going to say something. Bringing a request without expecting a response is like questioning a friend, then walking away before she answers. If we think, “Surely God won’t talk to li’l ole me,” then maybe he won’t.
I can also read the Bible (his words), yet fail to be in touch with him because I’m not eager to hear his opinion. Maybe we’re afraid he’ll say what we don’t want to hear, so we’d rather not listen. We need to first figure out if he is really relational one-on-one and then decide if we want that relationship. If we do, we can be confident this God of love will share himself with us.
I remember Jill Briscoe describing a time of family turmoil when God was leading her husband to take a pastorate in the States. Jill and her three children were deeply rooted in Britain and hadn’t heard the same message, so she went to God directly.
“If you want me to leave England, please let me know.” God’s definitive answer came in John 21:15:
“Feed my lambs.”
Jill heard him say, “Focus on caring for your children. You can do that in the States just as well as in England.”
And they moved.
Young Evan connected with music as a powerful language. But hearing from God trumps music any day, unless, of course, he uses music to communicate.
For me, though, hearing from God has always been music to my ears.
[Jesus] called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (Luke 8:8b)
Loved this Scripture, which can also be read…”whoever does not have ears to hear, will not hear.” Evan had musical “ears” from his parents and that gift drew him to search for and find them again, against all odds. It’s amazing that God gives us ears to “hear” Him so we can find Him, too. Although the movie didn’t use the concept of faith, for any Christian the message was wonderfully clear. Only those who truly listen will hear, and only those who truly seek will find.
What a great reminder to be listening for God to speak to us. I’m so guilty of placing a request at his feet and then rushing away before I’ve given him a chance to respond. Thanks for your blog today.
Be still and know that I AM GOD. I find that in the stillness I hear Him the most. That’s not to say He hasn’t spoken to me in turmoil or despair but it’s when my heart is turned toward Him and I am listening, I hear Him more.