Answers

You ask Elim experts the questions — This month, it’s Sophie Lavery from Elim Church Crawley

How important is it to listen well?

Listening is far more important than talking in my opinion. The Bible teaches us to be quick to listen, and Jesus is a great example of someone who listened.

If we listen to others we hear their language, their tone of voice, and we can see a lot more about how someone is feeling if we give them time to talk, offload and share. By listening to people, we filter our response. It’s important we listen, think, and reflect.

True listening means we hear what people say — not simply wait for them to stop talking so we can give them a piece of our mind! Friends, colleagues, members of our congregations will come to us with various issues and often the first thing they need is to feel heard.

If we don’t listen to people, we can be quick to assume or make judgments about things we really don’t understand, and that’s dangerous and definitely not how the Bible teaches us to live. Plus, the more we listen and validate people by hearing them, the more likely they are to accept our support and advice.

Should we share our own stories?

When we face change, challenge or uncertainty it can be so isolating and may have a detrimental effect on our mental health. By hearing people share their own struggles, it helps us not only to relate but also reminds us that life is not plain sailing.

The Bible warns us of trials and tribulations in life, but we often forget that. Someone may hear your story and be comforted to know that others also struggle and worry, or be encouraged that your prayer was answered.

Sometimes when we share our stories, we create opportunity for people to hear God’s voice. Satan wants us to suffer alone — God does not! Speaking about God’s protection, joy, peace and so on is powerful! It breaks chains, brings freedom and allows the Holy Spirit to move. Keep sharing and encourage others to share too!

Is the age of miracles over?

Absolutely not! I still see miracles regularly. I love to retell stories to my children of the times when I saw people’s legs grow, lumps disappear, bones healed and asthma disappear. Particularly in the 90s when the Holy Spirit was moving in this way.

However, today, I still see miracles. Personally, I see miracles in my heart and my children’s hearts. I see God preparing us for things, providing money, friendships, plans that fall into place, and peace. These are all miracles — they are all things only God can do.

When we pray for people who are sick and we pray for good doctors, or we pray for good friends for our children, or for conversations to be ones that are needed, and then they happen, I believe they are miracles. God is absolutely working miracles every single day.

I hope my children continue to believe to pray for healing over a sore foot as much as they would for something more serious. Let us not ever take God’s daily miracles for granted — they are still miracles!

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.