Distracted

“Hey, how are you?” The silence shattered and heads once entranced in magazines looked up and towards the culprit. “I’m still in the doctor’s office waiting,” she explained in a loud talking-on-a-cell-phone kind of voice. “I’m going to meet y’all for lunch in an hour or so,” we all listened to the conversation. We couldn’t help it. I paused in my book, staring at the words in front of me waiting for the lady beside me to politely end her call. That’s what you do in small waiting rooms – either send the call to voice mail or quietly answer and explain how you’ll call back later. It didn’t happen.

The waiting room as a whole listened as this woman helped her friend find her way to a specific destination. The loud talking woman wasn’t content to give directions and cut the caller loose. “I’ll just stay on the phone with you until you find it,” she told her friend. A collective sigh came from the waiting room.

Determined to block this woman out, I concentrated on the words in front of me. I called them out in my head one by one, then started over and read the sentence again. It was hard to glean any meaning from the print in my lap. It didn’t matter my book was interesting. I could not concentrate on anything but the loud talker and her conversation. I was distracted.

Satan works the same way. When God is speaking, Satan tries to drown Him out. We may be trying to read God’s Word while the devil jumps up and down shouting, or perhaps we are desperately trying to concentrate on that still small voice within us. Instead of hearing how you are chosen and part of a bigger plan, you are forced to listen to the hiss of the evil one as he spews – You aren’t good enough. You’ll never amount to anything. What does God care about you? Do you really think He has the time for one as insignificant as yourself?

Our Savior’s greatest enemy will do all he can to keep you from listening to the words of your Father. He doesn’t want you to know the truth. If he can just wave his hands high enough, jump fast enough, or talk loud enough, maybe you won’t know the truth – The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever. (Psalm 138:8 NIV)

You know when I was able to finish reading my book? When I got up and left the waiting room. My name was called, and I was able to move away. Christ is calling your name, too. Get up and walk away from the lies you are being told. Then concentrate on the Living God and what He is trying to tell you. You are loved. You are chosen. I have a plan for you. Believe it!

Visit Carol at sheep to the right!