Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you, a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

~Isaiah 30:21 NLT

“Tune in, not out.” Something I could say almost daily.

As a middle school teacher, I’ve witnessed numerous ways middle schoolers use, attempting not to listen to what a teacher says. Perhaps the subject is boring. Maybe, they hate school in its entirety—I did for most of my educational journey. Among the antics I’ve seen are visiting the pencil sharpener when their pencil was already sharpened; flipping a water bottle, hoping it would land upright; visiting the Kleenex station just to talk to a nearby friend; asking to go to the bathroom simply because they were bored; talking to a friend; aggravating whomever sits next to them; staring into space; fiddling with the lead in their mechanical pencil; flicking the clip on their pencil; or fiddling with their fingernails.

However, middle schoolers are not the only ones who attempt to tune out. We live in a busy world that is quite noisy. We use any number of things to tune out the noise. Exercising with earbuds or headphones so we can listen to a podcast or music, but not the other noise around us. Driving while doing the same. Even using them at home to tune out the other family members. We have become experts at tuning out.

I could use some of the same tactics during my afternoon walks. These walks are de-stressors for me, which I need after a day with middle schoolers. I love my students, but let’s face it, they can tax a teacher’s nerves, especially when summer break draws nigh. Instead, I tune in when I walk.

Sure, numerous vehicles pass me through our busy little subdivision, but I ignore them. But if I use devices not to hear them, I miss out on things I want to hear, such as the birds chirping, the woodpeckers knocking, and the squirrels barking. I listen for the noise, look for the source, and then identify it. After years of doing this, I can identify without seeing the source. I love hearing and seeing nature. Therefore, I don’t want to tune out what God has uniquely created.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

~John 10:27 NLT

I also typically hear God’s Spirit nudging mine as I tune in to His creation. God has birthed many a devotion in my soul as I tuned in to His still, small voice. Perhaps, this is what the prophet spoke of.

God is in the business of speaking to us, although not audibly. But to hear, we must tune in—not to the world’s noise, but to His still, small voice. When we do, He’ll constantly reveal His plan for us—how we should walk. Additionally, He will give us wisdom for our daily choices and decisions, directing us to what to tune in to. He will also provide the courage to live peacefully and joyfully in a noisy world.

Make sure you tune in to the right things and out to the wrong ones.

Father, tune me in to Your voice so I can live life to the fullest.  

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2025: Tune in Not Out: Martin Wiles: All Rights Reserved