I was teaching a class recently. In the curriculum, a quote by C.S. Lewis was referenced:
“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” -from The Problem of Pain
Many of the individuals that I teach have known pain. Many bear deep emotional scars from childhood and have self-inflicted wounds from their years of addictions. It is generally the case that, in their pain, which finally has brought them looking for recovery, they have begun to yearn to hear God’s voice. They’ve listened to so many tempting voices, so many promises of comfort, security, or significance from so many sources, including their own hearts. By the time they come seeking what we offer, they are usually ready to begin hearing the truth. They generally can’t say that that’s what they’re looking for, but very soon after they begin to hear it, there is an amazing transformation that begins to happen. They begin to say things like, “I believe that this is what I’ve been searching for….” or “Finally, I feel like my prayers are being answered…”
It’s interesting watching hearts grow ears, or rather watching the ears of one’s heart finally get tuned to hear what they were designed to listen to, once all the static and cacophony of noise from the world is muted.
“Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my ears, illumine me,Spirit divine!”
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/p/openeyes.htm– listen to the hymn and read the lyrics here.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:9)