Listening – Why God’s Voice is Closer Than You Think
“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
We live in a world that is loud—full of scrolling screens, busy schedules, background noise, and constant motion. Stillness has become rare. Silence almost feels threatening. And yet, if Scripture is right—and I believe it is—then it’s precisely in the stillness where we encounter something our souls desperately need: the voice of God.
The Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard once said:
“The present state of the world and all of life is diseased. If I were a doctor and were asked for my advice, I should reply: Create silence! Bring people to silence. The Word of God cannot be heard in the noisy world of today.”
So many people have asked me, “Do you really think God still speaks to people today?” The question itself assumes that if God ever did speak, He’s mostly gone quiet. And if someone does claim to hear from God, they’re often dismissed as unstable, fanatical, or worse.
But here’s what I’d say in response: God is not stuck in the past. The God who spoke to Moses, Elijah, Mary, and Peter is still speaking. And more than that—He wants to be heard.
What Jesus Said About Hearing God
Jesus paints a powerful picture in John 10. He calls himself the Good Shepherd, and he says that his sheep know his voice. He doesn’t say, “they knew my voice back in Bible times,” or “a few rare spiritual giants might recognize it.” No—he assumes that every believer has the capacity to recognize and respond to his voice.
“He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out… and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:3-4)
So if that’s true, then why do so many of us feel like we’ve never heard God speak?
Let me suggest two major reasons—two spiritual barriers that keep many people from experiencing what Jesus described.
1. We’re Afraid of What God Might Say
If we’re honest, some of us are afraid to hear from God—not because we think He’ll say something strange, but because we fear He might speak the truth. We instinctively avoid silence because silence confronts us. As Peter Kreeft writes:
“We want to be harried and hassled and busy… For if we had leisure, we would look at ourselves and listen to our hearts and see the great, gaping hole… and be terrified.”
Stillness has a way of drawing out the questions we don’t want to face:
Who am I really? Why am I restless? What am I hiding from? What’s the meaning of all this?
And if God were to actually respond, what would He say?
But here’s the good news: God speaks not to shame us, but to lead us into healing. He speaks as a Shepherd. His voice is not harsh. He is patient. He knows how to speak truth without crushing us.
2. We’re Too Distracted to Listen
The second reason we don’t hear God is perhaps even more common: we don’t make space for it.
We fill every silence with noise. We check our phones before getting out of bed. We listen to podcasts while brushing our teeth. We’ve made busyness our badge of honor.
Ask yourself honestly: If God were trying to speak to me, would He even be able to get a word in?
Scripture often describes God speaking in a “still, small voice.” And that means we have to be still enough—quiet enough—to hear it.
Even Jesus, amid a full schedule of healing and teaching, withdrew to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16). The Apostle Peter went up to the rooftop to listen (Acts 10). These were people with demands and responsibilities, just like us. But they made room for God—and God met them there.
A Blanket and a Prayer: Learning from Susanna Wesley
One of my favorite examples of creative listening comes from Susanna Wesley, the mother of John and Charles Wesley. She had at least 19 children, lived in a small rectory, and had zero privacy—and yet she was known as a woman of deep prayer.
Her solution? When she needed time with God, she’d pull her apron or blanket over her head as a signal to the kids: “Mom is praying. Unless it’s on fire, don’t bother her.”
It wasn’t ideal. It wasn’t quiet. But it was intentional. She made space for God in the chaos of daily life. And God honored that space.
Making Space in Your Life
You may not need a blanket over your head (though it’s a pretty great idea). But what would it look like for you to carve out sacred space for listening?
- Could you drive home in silence, no music or news?
- Could you step outside with your coffee for five minutes and just breathe, asking God to speak?
- Could you put your phone down for a set window of time each day, just to be with God?
The truth is, God still speaks. He always has. The question is—will we create the quiet needed to hear?
“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
He’s not hiding. He’s not gone. He’s speaking. Let’s make space to listen.