Deaf Ears and Open Arms
BRANDY GLASER
Women’s Ministries President
A
lot of times we feel that any- thing we say falls on deaf ears. It could be a family member who does not want to listen to the verbalization of our feelings, or a co-worker not wanting input on a project, or our children not be- ing receptive to our parental instruc- tions. But, there are always open solace. These arms are not just those of a close friend, spouse, or pastor; they are our Heavenly Father’s. He is with us always, and we can unload our sorrows to him through prayer (Psalm 55:22; 1 Peter 5:7).
Ann Beckham Gainey spoke at
the ARP Women’s Ministries Annu- al Meeting this past July. She talked about her God chair, which for her is a place where we sit with God and just listen. She carries NO personal items and NO agenda with her to the chair. She simply wants to sit quietly and be still in his presence. This message served as an uncomfortable reminder that we place too much emphasis on earthly needs and not enough on our spiri- tual needs, our relationship with the Lord. We tend to lend a willing ear
when someone just wants to release some of those bottled-up feelings but get cranky when we ourselves are not given the same treatment. God is our willing ear. He is our comforter. He is our safe space. He has his arms open wide for us to hold when life is dragging us down. All we need to do is Be Still and Listen to what HE is saying (Psalm 46:10). Maybe we should all have a God chair.
"CAST ALL
YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM
BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU."
Knowing, loving, serving, Jesus ARPWM November/December 2021 19
Women’s Ministries
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