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I noticed something the other day. When I tell you, I suspect you will wonder why it took me so long to notice. My friends are getting older! Yes, I know we are all getting older, but it seems like most of my friends are showing lots of signs of age. There are lots of signs or signals of their age. They move slower. Every conversation has to do with someone’s aches, pains, or recent surgery, which increasingly has to do with replacing some part that doesn’t seem to work anymore.

Now, I will admit that I certainly can relate to these conversations and usually participate in them, but maybe the hardest thing about getting older and having old friends is that no one hears very well. Now this may be a good thing sometimes, like when you try to ignore a spouse or friend who is reminding you to do something you don’t really want to do. But other than that, this decrease in hearing creates new challenges when you get together with friends.

I won’t name names, but yesterday I was with an older friend who I have known for many years. He had an old friend with him who I knew by name but had never met. Twice during our time together there was a discussion as to our seating arrangement because of who hears better sitting on the left or right of the speaker. When you get older, you have a lot of things to navigate to have a conversation that everyone in the room can participate in! I hope my younger friends will be patient with me and the rest of the Boomers as we adapt to our growing challenges with our hearing.

Reading Psalm 28 makes me wonder if the psalmist thought that God has a hearing problem. He has been around longer than any of us, so does our Father in heaven have to lean in to hear us when we pray? And if the Divine has any hearing loss, how are we to know which way to speak our prayers? Psalm 28 opens, “To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me…” Did David actually question whether God could hear him? I doubt it, though I suspect we all have wondered if God has heard our desperate cries for help.

David continued in verse 2: “Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.” I don’t know how old David was when he wrote this psalm, but I think this prayer is an example of something David learned as a boy, probably even before he faced Goliath; we are dependent on God in every way. We can never accomplish the will of God in our lives apart from God’s provision and help. He is our source of strength, help, and life.

Whatever situation or challenge the psalmist was experiencing, he trusted that God could and would settle the score. David knew that in God’s justice and mercy, he would be delivered, and his enemy would receive their due reward. (v. 4)

This psalm comes to a crescendo beginning in verse 6 when David declares what he knows to be true based on his previous experiences and through his faith: “For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.” God does not have any hearing loss, but in times of great stress and struggle we may have a challenge in our confidence, not only with ourselves but with God’s provision. This tends to happen when we go through long seasons of struggle.

So, what do we do in these long seasons? We declare what we know to be true and what God’s word teaches us and the saints of old have declared: “The Lord is the strength of his people; my heart exults and with my song I will give thanks to him.” Please note that we give thanks even before our situation resolves because our hope is anchored in Jesus our rock and our salvation.

David ended this powerful prayer: “He is the saving refuge of his anointed. Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.” Did you see it? David even prayed for us and our time of need. He asked God to bless his heritage. And we are heirs of the Father through Jesus our Lord!

So don’t worry about which way you speak your prayers, and don’t be concerned that God needs to order a hearing aid. The only aid we need is the Holy Spirit’s reminder that God is working even while we wait and cry out to him in our time of need.

Father, thank you that no matter where we are or what we are going through, you see us, hear our prayers, and will respond to our needs. You are our rock and our redeemer. We trust in you today to deliver us by your mighty hand. In Jesus’ name, amen.