Being responsive may be easy for some people, but it is difficult for me. Responsiveness forms the foundation for any thriving relationship. God responds as we look toward Him. But how will we respond to God’s invitation to come into a mutual relationship with Him?
The dictionary meaning of “responsive” is “to react quickly and positively, to respond readily and with enthusiasm.”
Here is my present reality. I want God to respond “quickly and positively” to my cries for help, yet expect His grace allowing me to hesitate, to evaluate, or even procrastinate in my response to Him.
“Do two walk together
unless they agreed to do so?”
Amos 3:3
Responsiveness gives agreement to each other.
Difficulty Responding
Disappointment, betrayal, rejection or brokenness form wounds within relationships, Wounds create callouses, a hardness of heart, that often makes responding difficult.
God gave Hosea the overwhelming task of marrying a prostitute, knowing she would be unfaithful. He had to overcome personal pain to woo her back.
God asked this humble prophet to live in a way that visibly demonstrated Israel’s betrayal of their God — the Bride’s betrayal of the Bridegroom.
“Therefore I am now going to allure her;
I will lead her into the wilderness
and speak tenderly to her.
There I will give her back her vineyards,
and will make the Valley of Achor
a door of hope.
There she will respond
as in the days of her youth.”
Hosea 2:14-15
Broken bruised hearts struggle to respond to love. But God leads — even in “the wilderness”, in “the Valley of Achor” (Valley of Trouble). God turns this dry place of trouble into “a door of hope.” Even when hope vanishes, God leads the way!
Here beyond hope, “she will respond.”
Rebellion Blocks
Hosea speaks of Israel’s stubborn refusal to respond “quickly and positively” to God.
Israel’s arrogance testifies against them;
the Israelites, even Ephraim,
stumble in their sin;
Judah also stumbles with them.”
Hosea 5:5
The phrase “testifies against” translates from the same word for “respond.” Refusal to respond epitomizes defiance against our Redeemer and Lord.
Even our faintest response to God’s open “door of hope” releases a transformational change.
“‘In that day I will respond,’
declares the LORD —
‘I will respond to the skies,
and they will respond to the earth;
and the earth will respond to the grain,
the new wine and the olive oil,
and they will respond to Jezreel.'”
Hosea 2:21-22
Envision it! Our little response to God releases a supernatural reproduction. Creation breaks forth on the wings of human responsiveness to God!
Love Initiates
Jezreel means “God plants.” The seeds of responsiveness bloom and grow, producing a love that initiates — fully and continuously responding.
“I will plant her for myself in the land;
I will show my love to the one I called
‘Not my loved one.’
I will say to those called
‘Not my people,’
‘You are my people‘;
and they will say, ‘You are my God.‘”
Hosea 2:23
This same word “respond” weaves through the Song of Songs, veiling the responsiveness between the Lover and His Beloved
“My beloved spoke and said to me,
‘arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
come with me.'”
Songs 2:10
Singing and Shouting Erupts
Some versions translate Hosea 2:15 as “she will sing there” in “Valley of Trouble.” The Psalms often express this way of responding.
“May my tongue sing of your word,
for all your commands are righteous.”
Psalm 119:172
Such joyous response of singing or triumphant shouts over our enemies, represent quick, positive response. Listen to God’s decree over Babylon.
“The LORD Almighty has sworn by himself;
I will surely fill you with troops,
as with a swarm of locust,
and they will shout in triumph over you.”
Jeremiah 51:14
Here “shout in triumph” is translated from the Hebrew word for respond.
Covenant Facilitates
Responsiveness refers mainly within the context of covenant relationship. Perhaps that is why I appreciate Hosea so much. He experienced the deepest breach of covenant — the pain of adultery.
The Valley of Trouble leaves enduring scars — visible remnants of broken trust. Everyone faces the sting of betrayal to some degree. Recovery cannot be forced. How does a bruised and wounded heart respond again?
By God’s grace alone! David’s says, “I call out to the LORD, and he answers me.” (Ps 3:4) He assures us, “God will respond to your need.”
“May the LORD answer you
when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you help…
and grant you support.”
Psalm 20:1-2
The word “respond” is hidden within Psalm 20 multiple times — responsiveness between God and His children in need. “Help” and “support” are essential to restoring trust. The decision to respond, not just to God, but to those around us, rests upon our security in the Lord’s Presence rather than trusting people to show value and dignity.
“I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.”
Psalm 34:4-5
God delivers and covers the bruised one from fear and the betrayed one from shame within the responsiveness of covenant love.
Responding
Jonah avoided responding by running and hiding.
“But Jonah ran away from the LORD…
he went down to Joppa…
After paying the fare, he went aboard…
to flee from the LORD…
Jonah had gone below deck,
where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.”
Jonah 1:3-4
Refusal to respond “quickly and positively” to God’s voice carries a heavy price. The journey leads ever downward into deepening disengagement from God, others and even ourselves. “The fare” costs far more than any realize.
Though Jonah eventually did what God asked, his heart never turned fully to God. He remained hard within the crusty shell of self-sufficiency (4:5), self-pity (4:8), and self-righteousness (4:9). Nineveh repented. Jonah refused.
There is only one man known for his responsiveness to God’s voice.
“Because your heart was responsive
and you humbled yourself before the LORD
when you heard what I have spoken…
and because you tore your robes
and wept in my presence,
I also have heard you, declares the LORD.”
2 Kings 22:19
Josiah was the man! Though imperfect, Josiah responded to God’s voice with humility and repentance.
Positive Outcome
The bible is filled with examples of those who responded well and those who didn’t. They either received a blessing or ended life as a faint shadow of their potential.
God responds to our slightest movement in His direction. How will we respond to His leading, timing and call? Any slowness in our responsiveness delays
God’s presence and power,
intimacy and communion,
and the supernatural results of living
in fellowship with Him.
God waits patiently, but hopes intensely, for us to “quickly and positively” respond to the whisper of His voice. As difficult as responding often is for me, my heart truly wants to leave hesitation, evaluation, and procrastination behind. I’m sure you do too.
I want the grace of responsiveness to permeate my life, both with God and with those around me. Every day requires choice. Will I shrink back or move into responsiveness?
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