A Relationship is Worth A Thousand Words

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me. Psalm 16:7

Words. What a concept. God created languages in order for us to communicate with each other. It doesn't seem that hard until you start living with people. How many times have you heard one of the following?

But I thought you said.

Why didn't you tell me?

If I had only known.

Did you hear what I said? (this is usually a parental statement)

How many times does our lack of communication with one another result in problems? Children quarrel, friendships disintegrate, marriages collapse, and nations go to war all because of a lack of communication. What is so hard about talking to each other? Is it because we are lazy? Is it because we do not want to make ourselves vulnerable? These questions and others like them keep coming to my mind more and more lately as I struggle with some very important relationships. What is so important in my day that I cannot stop and talk to my children? What is so pressing in my schedule that my husband is the last to know what I am doing? Why is my daily prayer time pushed further and further down my list of priorities?

I started doing some research on the importance of communication in the Bible. While I could not find the word "communication" in my version, I did notice something rather interesting. God is very communicative. He is constantly talking to people: Abraham, Moses, Noah, Enoch, Hagar, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Samuel, Elijah, Gideon, Solomon, David, Joseph, Paul, John. I could go on and on. When Jesus walked the earth He spoke to thousands upon thousands. And the very book that is lying in front of me, my own version of God's Word, speaks to multitudes. God does not leave me in the dark as to what He thinks about things. He does not leave me stumbling and ignorant. He tells me what He wants from me. He lets me know (on paper!) of the great love He has for me. He tells me of the past and the future. He gives me examples of His expectations and what happens if I blow it. And He tells me of forgiveness and mercy and how to obtain them. All of this He communicates with me. And not just once but over and over.

Communication, however, takes effort. God Himself put a great deal of effort into putting together the Bible. He continues to put effort into communicating with me today through His Word, through circumstances around me, through other people. I need to take His example to heart. My relationships are worth the effort it takes to communicate.

Dear God, thank You for your wonderful example of communication. Please, help me with my communication efforts. Help me not to be lazy, not to be so distracted with the things I "just have to do" that I forget to talk to those around me. My relationships are such gifts from You, Lord. Thank you for them and give me the endurance to nourish and cherish them.

Janine Miller