Ear of Your Heart

“Hearts don’t say words.” For years this was something my husband would say with different levels of exasperation in response to me saying he wasn’t hearing my heart. It was funny, until it wasn’t. When emotions ran strong, neither of us felt understood, and we’d find ourselves at an impasse. It was hard. It still can be!

We all communicate differently. My husband is an attorney. He’s direct, concise and analytical. Me, I identify with every conceivable emotion and tend to speak in paragraphs. I’m getting better at being more brief, but as it is with most things, I’m a work in progress. You can imagine the challenge that can arise in our conversations.

Different communication styles are not a new thing. Even the authors of the Bible have different voices. Especially the gospels. Matthew, the tax collector, wrote with structure and Old Testament references. Luke, the doctor, gave us abundant detail. John wrote like a friend telling a love story. Same Savior, same truth — different voices.

Just like with any relationship, at times I struggle to hear God clearly or at all. Even when I read different voices and perspectives from the Bible or they’re are offered from trusted friends and family. Actually, sometimes it feels like I struggle to hear God at all! And, if I’m being really honest, I want Him to communicate in a way that’s not only obvious, but preferably what I want to hear.

The thing is, God is always listening and speaking. The challenge is allowing His voice to shine through all the noises in and around me that tend to drown Him out. My pride, hurt, fears, distraction, comparison, grief and even the ache of unanswered prayers can be some of the most powerful unspoken words that get in the way of His voice. And it feels like a deafening silence from the One I need to hear most.

Maybe you can relate. Whether you have the same voices or different ones, we can stop and breathe in God’s truth. I know that can sound strange, but it reminds me of something I read about God’s name, Yahweh (YHWH). Maybe you’ve heard this before, but it’s so beautifully soothing, I’m going to share it anyway.

Some rabbis and Jewish scholars have explored where the name YHWH comes from and it’s thought to mimic the sound of breath. Meaning, our very inhale and exhale can be a whisper of His name. Close your eyes and try it! But come back because I want to share something else with you.

Not only is our breathing the essence of God, the promises of His truth are woven into our hearts through His Spirit.

Life will be messy and loud. It just will. Conversations and communication will be challenging. But 1 Corinthians 14:33 reminds us that, “God is not a God of confusion but of peace. ” This truth holds — whether we’re in a crowded room or our thoughts feel cluttered.

I hope that’s as encouraging to you as it is to me. When we feel too overwhelmed to listen, even when we don’t have words, we’re still breathing His presence in and out. It’s a poetic and powerful reminder that God is always so much closer to us than any noise.

My husband and I still have moments where we struggle to feel understood. In fact, a while back he got the latin phrase, “Auribus cordis tui,” tattooed on his forearm as a reminder. It means, “With the ears of your heart.” I love the sentiment of listening deeply with your heart. I have to say, the irony is lost on me that if he thinks hearts can’t say words, how do they have ears? But I love him even more for getting it. It’s become a reminder for both of us: listening is much deeper than words — it’s about the posture of hearts. Because hearts might not say words, but they speak volumes.

The same is true of how we listen to God. So, I hope you’ll allow me to ask you, what voices are drowning out God in your life? Try naming them. Then pause, breathe, and let the rhythm of His name, YHWH, rise and fall with every breath and speak against them to allow for God’s clarity. Because it’s there. He’s there.