“You don’t hear God’s voice better by trying harder—you hear God’s voice better by staying closer.”- Brian Turner

We live in one of the loudest moments in human history.

Noise surrounds us constantly—notifications buzzing, opinions multiplying, expectations pressing in from every direction. Even when the room is quiet, our minds often aren’t. Thoughts race. Fears surface. Questions linger.

And in the middle of all that noise, many faithful Christians find themselves asking a deeply honest question:

Is God actually speaking to me… or am I just guessing?

Not in dramatic moments—but in the ordinary spaces of life. In the car. In prayer. Late at night, when the house finally settles. In seasons where clarity feels urgent and God feels quiet.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re hearing God clearly—or worried you might be getting it wrong—you’re not weak in faith. You’re human. And you’re not alone.

A Quiet Assumption That Shapes Everything

Many believers hold a subtle but powerful assumption: God speaks—but maybe not to me.

We believe God spoke in Scripture. We believe He speaks to pastors, prophets, or spiritually gifted people. But when it comes to our own discernment, we hesitate. We second-guess. We shrink back.

That belief quietly reshapes how we live.

We still love God. We still serve. We still pray. But we hesitate to trust our discernment. We live cautiously instead of courageously—not because God is distant, but because we’ve learned to doubt our ability to hear Him.

Jesus speaks directly into this fear.

“My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)

Jesus does not describe hearing His voice as rare, elite, or advanced. He describes it as normal. Relational. Expected.

Hearing comes before following. Guidance flows from relationship.

The God Who Speaks

From the opening pages of Scripture, God reveals Himself as a speaking God.

“Then God said…” is how creation begins.
“In the beginning was the Word,” John tells us.
And that Word “became flesh and dwelt among us.”

Christianity is not primarily a system of rules or rituals. It is a relationship with a God who communicates.

Before Jesus ascended, He promised that the Holy Spirit would continue that communication:

“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth… whatever He hears He will speak.” (John 16:13)

The Spirit guides. The Spirit speaks. The Spirit leads.

Spirit-led living is not mystical excess. It is biblical normalcy.

Why God’s Voice Often Feels Hard to Hear

One reason many struggle to hear God is not that He is silent, but that He is quieter than we expect.

Elijah learned this on the mountain. God was not in the wind. Not in the earthquake. Not in the fire. He came in a still, small voice.

God often speaks softly, not because He is distant—but because He is close.

Soft voices invite proximity.

God’s voice will never contradict His Word, and it will never contradict His character. Even when He corrects, His voice carries love. Conviction draws us closer; condemnation drives us away.

Scripture tells us to let the peace of Christ rule our hearts. That word “rule” means to act as an umpire. God often leads through peace—not pressure.

When everything feels urgent, discernment becomes difficult. Noise dulls attentiveness.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Stillness is not inactivity. It is attentiveness.

When Listening Becomes Heavy

For many people, the struggle to hear God isn’t theological—it’s emotional.

Disappointment. Fear of getting it wrong. Quiet grief from unanswered prayers.

Over time, uncertainty can turn into self-doubt: Maybe God speaks to others more clearly than He speaks to me.

That belief doesn’t pull people away from faith—it pulls them away from confidence.

But God does not lead His children through fear.

“You did not receive a spirit of bondage again to fear, but a Spirit of adoption.” (Romans 8:15)

Adopted children trust their Father’s tone.

You don’t hear God’s voice better by trying harder.
You hear God’s voice better by staying closer.

Hearing God is not a reward for spiritual performance. It is a gift of relationship.

Jesus never said, “Strain to hear Me.”
He said, “Abide in Me.”

Seasons of Silence and Presence

Some of you may feel that God has been quiet.

Silence does not mean abandonment.

Sometimes God speaks direction. Sometimes He speaks presence. In the valley, Psalm 23 tells us, God walks with us. He doesn’t always explain—but He never leaves.

A shepherd does not test sheep. He guides them.

God is not trying to trick you or catch you making the wrong choice. He is deeply committed to leading you.

Grace-Filled Practices for Everyday Life

Hearing God’s voice is not about mastering a formula—it’s about cultivating a posture. Here are four simple, grace-filled rhythms that help position your heart to hear more clearly.

1. Practice Daily Stillness—even briefly
Five or ten minutes of intentional quiet before God. No agenda. No pressure. Silence creates space—and God often fills space we’ve been too busy to make.

2. Anchor your listening in Scripture
Read slowly. Listen prayerfully. Scripture tunes your spiritual ear. God often gives light for the next step, not the whole journey.

3. Learn to discern peace from pressure
God’s voice carries peace, even when it challenges. Fear, condemnation, confusion, and urgency are signals to pause.

4. Obey what you already know
Often clarity comes after obedience. Not big obedience—small faithfulness. As you walk in what God has already shown you, discernment sharpens.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about proximity.

An Invitation, Not a Test

Hearing God’s voice doesn’t begin with certainty. It begins with availability.

If your heart is open, your posture humble, and your desire sincere, you are already closer than you think.

God is patient.
God is kind.
God delights in guiding His children.

Even in the noise.
Especially in the noise.

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’” (Isaiah 30:21)

The Shepherd knows how to lead His sheep.

And He will—step by step, with peace, patience, and love.

Reply

Back to Brian Turner Ministries

If this reflection encouraged you, consider listening to Episode 3 of Rise with Brian Turner: Hearing God’s Voice in the Noise, and share it with someone who may be overwhelmed by the noise of life. God is still speaking—and His voice is nearer than we often realize.