READ: 1 KINGS 18:20-39; PSALMS 115:1-13; 116:1-9

"Can you hear me? Hello? I’m talking…Are you even listening?” Have you ever tried and tried to get someone to listen to you, and eventually just gave up? Maybe after a while, you just couldn’t spend any more energy trying to get them to pay attention, so, you tried to convince yourself that you didn’t really care to tell your story to them anyway, if they didn’t want to listen.

The people in our lives don’t always give us their attention when we have stories to tell or needs that must be met. There may be times when we feel like we have to fight to get the attention of a parent or a sibling, especially if they’re on their phone or playing video games or working on a task. It’s beyond frustrating when people ignore us. And then we catch ourselves doing the same thing to others! But God will never be like that. God is always listening. Always ready to hear you. Always ready to step in. God is never too busy for you, never distracted, and He is never going to ignore you. You can tell Him anything—and you can go to Him at any time.

In 1 Kings 18, we see how God listens. At this time, many Israelites have turned away from the Lord to worship Baal. So the prophet Elijah challenges them to make an altar for Baal and ask him to bring fire upon it, then Elijah will make an altar for the Lord and pray to Him. When they see which altar is burned, they will know who is the true God. As the people cry out to Baal, Elijah has a lot to say. While they are waiting for their god to act, Elijah suggests that maybe Baal is traveling and can’t hear them. Or maybe he is asleep or busy in some other way.

Why was Elijah able to taunt them like this? Because he knew that the Lord was going to listen as soon as he spoke to Him. Elijah knew that his God—our God—was going to move into action right when he needed Him. He knew that God would never be too busy or distracted to act. So remember, whenever you’re feeling ignored, you can always go to God, and He will listen. • Emily Acker

• Can you think of a time you felt ignored, or you tried to talk to someone who was too distracted to listen? We often imagine God is like that too, but He always listens to us and gives us His full attention. Because the Father sent Jesus to die for us and rise again, we have full access to God (Hebrews 4:14-16). Consider taking some time to talk to Him about whatever is on your mind.

Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. Psalm 116:2 (NIV)