Episode Details

Read: Psalm 55:16-18

“Pick up, Dad.” Harlow held her mom’s phone. “I need to talk to you.”

She heard her dad’s voice and smiled, then she realized it was just his voicemail.

“We’ll try again later,” Mom said. “He must be busy with work.”

Harlow sighed. Ever since her dad had gotten remarried, he was always too busy for her and her sister. Either he was working or he was hanging out with his new wife and her kids. He didn’t have time for them anymore.

After dinner that evening, Harlow watched as Haven typed a text to their dad. “Call me,” her little sister said, her fingers moving over their mom’s phone.

“Tell him I have to talk to him about school,” Harlow said.

Haven wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know how to spell that.”

Mom looked between them with a sad smile. “Just tell him to call, and if he doesn’t call before bedtime, you can try calling him.”

Bedtime came without a response from Dad, and Harlow sank down onto the floor outside the bathroom as Mom combed her sister’s hair after her bath.

“Let’s try again.” Mom grabbed her phone after braiding Haven’s hair.

Harlow waited as her mom tried to get in touch with Dad. She knew he wouldn’t answer.

Mom lowered the phone from her ear. “You know what, girls? This makes me think of something I was reading in my Bible earlier. Your dad has been busy a lot lately, but do you know who’s never too busy for you?”

“God?” Haven asked.

Mom nodded. “The Bible says we can talk with Him anytime—morning, noon, and night. He’s there when we get up, when we eat lunch, and when we’re lying in bed and can’t sleep. He’s never too busy for us.”

“Do you think He knows how much we miss talking to Dad?” Harlow asked.

“I do. Jesus became human to save us, which means He understands everything we feel. And I think He hurts for you.”

Harlow blinked her eyes, feeling like she might cry. “I’m glad we have God,” she said. “And I’m really glad that He doesn’t get too busy to listen to us.”

–Emily Acker

How about you? Have you ever wanted to talk to someone only to have them be too busy to pay attention to you? It hurts, doesn’t it? Jesus understands how you feel, and He has all the time in the world for you. He loves you so much that He died for your sins so you could have a relationship with Him. You can talk to Him anytime. He’s never too busy to hear what you have to say.

Today's Key Verse: The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: God is always listening