Trusting God's Voice Over the Noise

“My sheep know my voice.”It’s a quote I heard often from Christian leadership in my life.

A verse that sounded comforting in the early days of my faith walk, because I now had someone to help guide me. Beneath the surface, it slowly stirred up uncertainty.

Why? Because it always seemed like they heard God so clearly, so confidently, while I was left second-guessing if what I felt, sensed, or heard deep within was truly Him… or just me. Especially when what I heard contradicted what they said I should be doing. 

When you’re constantly taught to seek outside counsel, too many voices can cloud your spirit. You become unsure of which one to trust, and worst of all, you begin to question the Holy Spirit that Jesus gifted to you.

Here's the truth: you can be confident in hearing God for yourself.

There’s nothing wrong with godly counsel or a spiritual community. But they were never meant to replace your relationship with the Shepherd. 

When I left an atmosphere shaped by manipulative leadership and spiritual control, I struggled in a fog of deep confusion. I couldn’t easily discern what was God’s voice, what was my own, or what were the lingering remnants of bad teaching.

I had to relearn how to hear. How to trust. How to believe that God wanted to speak to me just as much as He speaks to anyone else. And he does. And honestly, I’m still learning. Because this is a journey I’m continuing to grow in.

If you're learning to hear God for yourself, here’s what I’ve learned that may be of help to you:

1. Spend quality time with Him. Not rushed. Not pressured. Whether it’s 15 minutes or 2 hours, be present. Sit with Him and open your heart.

2. Don’t just talk, listen. Prayer is a two-way conversation. After you bring your requests, sit in silence. What do you sense? What is God showing you?  

3. Read the Bible regularly. The more you know the Word, the easier it is to recognize the voice of the One who wrote it. The more familiar you are with how He’s spoken through Scripture, the clearer His voice becomes in your everyday life.

Learning to hear God takes time. So, give yourself grace. If you’ve walked through religious trauma or toxic environments, there may be some unlearning to do, but it can be undone.

And if you’re just beginning your walk with God, take courage. He wants to speak to you. He already is.

God’s voice is not always an audible sound. Sometimes he speaks through visions and dreams. He can shift your perspective through a song. It can feel like peace, a gentle nudge, or an unshakable sense of just knowing. He can speak to your situation directly from His word, or He may send a friend with an encouraging word, or sometimes even a stranger. 

He speaks in His unique way to you. 

Listen, you don’t have to rely on everyone else’s confirmations. You don’t need to be intimidated by someone else’s spiritual language. You are His sheep just as much as others are, and guess what? The Good Shepherd knows you.

God is speaking. Now just lean in and listen.

Weekly Scripture

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”

JOHN 10:14

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