We’ve heard the brook.

We’ve heard the roar.

Now comes the harder part.

What does it mean?

Sound is one thing. Understanding is another.

Our ears can detect only a narrow range of frequencies. That’s a fact. There is always more happening than we perceive. A microphone can pick up vibrations we will never hear. But Jehovah did not design us to hear everything. He designed us to hear what we need.

The same is true spiritually.

You can hear something repeated. You can notice that it keeps coming back. You can feel that it’s building. But that still doesn’t tell you what to do.

That’s where wisdom comes in.

“The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom.” —Proverbs 9:10.

Wisdom is not just information. It is not just awareness. It is not just noticing patterns. Wisdom is knowing what is stable and true and real—and choosing to live in harmony with it.

Then there is discernment.

“But solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their powers of discernment trained to distinguish both right and wrong.” —Hebrews 5:14.

Discernment is trained. It grows through use. It separates one thing from another.

You can stand on a train track and feel the vibration.

You can hear the whistle.

You can see the light in the distance.

Wisdom knows you and a train cannot occupy the same space.

Discernment tells you it’s time to move

Hearing is not enough.

Knowing facts is not enough.

Something has to happen next.

Sound fills space.

But not every sound deserves your response.

“And this is what I continue praying, that your love may abound still more and more with accurate knowledge and full discernment; that you may make sure of the more important things.” —Philippians 1:9-10.

That’s the lesson.

Life is full of noise. Some of it whispers. Some of it roars. Some of it repeats until it feels urgent. But repetition is not the same as importance.

A waterfall is loud because the same sound never stops arriving.

Pressure is not proof.

Jehovah does not want us reacting to every vibration. He wants us trained. Thoughtful. Steady.

You will hear many things in life.

Opinions repeated.
Warnings repeated.
Complaints repeated.

Some will whisper.

Some will roar.

Wisdom asks: Is this one of the more important things?

Discernment answers by acting.

A brook makes sound.
A waterfall makes sound.

But neither one decides your steps.

That belongs to you.