You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, and You listen to their cry…”  (Psalm 10:17)

Have you ever heard the phrase, “they hear you but they’re not listening”?  The idea is that your voice is registering , but they don’t really understand you; or, worse yet, they’re not really paying attention to what you’re saying– what you’re really saying.  They are not giving heed to your heart.

God not only hears, He LISTENS. He listens with the intent to act on our behalf.  The Lord considers it (our trouble)”to take it in hand” (Psalm 10:14); that is, He is going to do something about it.  God hears; God listens; God cares; God is moved; God responds (He acts).