“God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.” 1 Corinthians 14:33
Many years ago, when I was in high school, our family hosted a foreign exchange student for a semester. He spoke about 90% Spanish, and I spoke 100% English. It was rough trying to understand each other. We used a Spanish/English dictionary, but I’m not sure we communicated very well. Fast forward to a few years ago—my brother-in-law hosted two foreign exchange students from China. To help them fully understand each other, they used Google Translate. What a difference!
Back in my high school days, we communicated mostly through gestures and smiles. My brother-in-law, however, was able to have full conversations with his exchange students, thanks to Google Translate. In contrast, we felt like we were playing a ten-day game of “Pictionary.”
Here’s the point: there were a couple of times when we thought we understood what the other person was trying to communicate, but we were totally wrong. That’s where tools like dictionaries and translators were so helpful.
It got me thinking: how often do I get the message wrong when I’m listening to a friend or even listening to God? That’s where the basic principle of patience is so helpful. After you hear someone tell a story, describe a situation, complain, or even compliment, repeat their words back to them. Say something like, “What I heard you say is this,” or “Is that correct?” Believe me, this one small habit will reap huge rewards. So, unless you’re amazing at charades: clarify, clarify, clarify. You’ll be glad you did.
Let’s apply that same principle to God’s Word. Read it, and then read it again. Don’t miss the chance to truly understand and listen well. God desires truth, understanding, and clarity for all His children.
