Have you ever had one of those weeks, or maybe even months, where everything feels overwhelming?
I’m talking about the kind of soul-noise that shows up when your heart is breaking, your mind is spinning, and your emotions are just tired.
You want to pray, but your thoughts feel jumbled. You try to read the Word, but nothing seems to sink in. You sit in silence, hoping to hear something, anything from God, but it just feels quiet, too quiet.
I’ve been there too. And sometimes the silence can feel especially disorienting. You wonder: Is he even speaking? Or have I somehow forgotten how to hear Him?
But here’s what I’ve learned (and I hope this reminds your heart today) that God’s voice hasn’t gone anywhere. It’s still there, gentle, faithful, and steady. It’s just that sometimes, we have to quiet the other noise before we can notice the whisper.
There’s a beautiful moment in the Bible where the prophet Elijah is desperate to hear from God. He’s just come off the mountaintop literally, and now finds himself afraid, exhausted, and deeply discouraged. He’s hiding in a cave, needing direction. And then this happens:
“After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
—1 Kings 19:12 (NIV)
A whisper. That’s how God chose to speak.
Not through the earthquake.
Not through the fire.
But in the stillness.
So, if life feels loud right now, if your heart is weary, your mind is spinning, or you’re just struggling to hear, take heart. The whisper hasn’t left. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how to tune your heart to hear God again, even when everything around you is making noise.
Understanding the Noise – What’s Really Getting in the Way?
Before we discuss hearing God’s voice, we need to address the noise, the real distractions that clutter our hearts, cloud our minds, and drown out the whisper of the Holy Spirit.
Because let’s be honest: sometimes we’re not ignoring God, we’re just overwhelmed.
Emotional Noise
Grief, anxiety, fear, anger, and heartbreak. These aren’t just emotions, they’re storms, and they can be so loud. When your heart is aching or anxious, it’s hard to hear anything else.
Even the most faithful believer can find it challenging to focus spiritually when they’re emotionally drained. Pain has a way of echoing so loudly that peace feels far away.
Mental Noise
Have you ever been so deep in your own thoughts that you couldn’t even finish a prayer? Mental noise is that internal chatter, the overthinking, the endless decisions, the spiraling what-ifs.
It’s the voice of self-doubt whispering, “What if I mess this up?” or “What if I make the wrong choice?” And it’s exhausting. Even when you carve out time to sit with God, your brain is still scrolling through an internal to-do list.
External Noise
Let’s not forget the everyday noise: the phone that never stops buzzing, the constant opinions from people who mean well, the pressure to be everything to everyone, the news cycle, the emails, the social media scroll that was supposed to be just five minutes, but somehow stole your whole evening.
We’re living in a world that never quiets down. No wonder our souls are desperate for rest.
Sometimes we expect God to raise His voice above the noise, but more often, He invites us to lower the volume of everything else.
So take a moment right now and breathe. Ask yourself: What’s been loud in my life lately? Is it grief? A decision you’re afraid to make? Social pressure? Or constant mental multitasking?
Whatever it is, name it, and bring it into the light because naming the noise is the first step to quieting it.
How God Speaks – It’s Not Always What We Expect
If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not sure I’ve ever actually heard God speak,” you’re not alone, and you’re not spiritually broken either.
We often expect God to speak in some dramatic, unmistakable, Moses-on-the-mountain kind of way. And sometimes, He does. But most of the time? He speaks more like a loving Father guiding His child calmly, personally, and sometimes in ways we don’t immediately recognize.
The truth is, God is always communicating. The question is, are we paying attention to how He does it?
Let’s look at some of the beautiful, often unexpected ways God speaks:
1. His Word (Scripture) – His Voice in Written Form
The Bible isn’t just a book we read out of routine or obligation; it’s a living, breathing message from God’s heart to yours.
Every verse is infused with His wisdom, comfort, character, and His promises.
And sometimes, the words you’ve skimmed over a hundred times suddenly leap off the page and land right where your soul needs healing.
That’s not a coincidence; that’s the Holy Spirit, and that’s God speaking.
There have been times when I opened the Bible in complete desperation, no fancy devotionals, no perfect quiet-time setup, just raw, tear-stained hope. And even then, God met me in the lines of Scripture, reminding me that He was still with me, still guiding, still speaking.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105
When everything else feels dark or uncertain, His Word gives direction. It may not always give answers, but it always brings alignment and a steady light for the next step forward.
If you’re struggling to hear God, start with the Word. He’s already speaking there, and His voice never returns void.
2. Inner Promptings and Peace – The Whisper Within
As we now know, not every message from God comes with a lightning bolt. Often, it’s a gentle prompting, a quiet inner knowing that doesn’t make sense on paper but brings undeniable peace to your spirit.
It might be a feeling that nudges you to call someone out of the blue, apply for something you weren’t even considering, let go of that toxic relationship, or wait when everything in you wants to act.
These aren’t loud commands; they’re more like holy whispers inside your heart. And when they’re truly from God, His voice carries stillness, not striving.
There’s a divine calm that follows even if the situation around you hasn’t changed. You just know.
You know that decision is right, you know it’s time to move forward or time to stay still, and you’re not panicked about it.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” – Colossians 3:15
His peace is often the confirmation. It’s how He signals that He’s in it. And the beautiful thing is, you don’t have to chase this peace; it comes when you stop forcing things and start trusting Him.
If you’re waiting to hear God but everything feels quiet, pay attention to your spirit. That deep, quiet yes or no you keep sensing? Please don’t ignore it.
3. Wise Counsel – God Speaking Through Others
Sometimes, God wraps His voice in the presence of another person. It might be a friend who says the exact thing you needed to hear… or an unexpected conversation that feels like Heaven just interrupted your pain. That’s not a coincidence, that’s divine timing. God often speaks through wise, Spirit-led people in our lives to guide, comfort, or gently redirect us.
I’ll never forget when I was right at the beginning of my separation, hurting so badly and completely at a loss. Nothing made sense. The pain was loud, the questions were louder, and bitterness was trying to take over. Then one day, an elderly relative came to visit me. And in the middle of my heartbreak, she said something so simple, yet so powerful:
“You are the only one who can intercede for your husband and this situation.”
That one sentence melted something in me. I believe with all my heart that God spoke through her that day. Her words didn’t come with pressure or judgment; they came with peace and truth. And in that moment, I let God in. I released the anger, and He replaced it with a heart of forgiveness.
That’s the kind of counsel that doesn’t just sound good but feels right in your spirit. It realigns you with God’s heart.
So if someone says something to you and it pierces through the noise with love and clarity, pay attention. That may just be God using a vessel to speak straight to your soul.
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4. Nature – Creation as a Megaphone
Have you ever looked at a sunrise and felt your soul exhale? Or stood under a canopy of trees and felt covered, held, and seen? Or maybe you’ve watched the waves roll in and out and thought, If God can keep this rhythm steady, surely He can hold my life together too.
Nature is more than scenery; it’s one of God’s loudest megaphones. Creation reflects the Creator. The sun, the stars, and the oceans all echo His glory, His order, His peace.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” – Psalm 19:1
There have been moments when I couldn’t find the words to pray, but just being outside, feeling the breeze or watching the sky shift, reminded me that I was not alone. That God was still near, and still speaking.
When life gets loud, sometimes you need to step outside. Not to escape but to listen differently.
5. Dreams and Visions – When God Speaks While You Sleep
God still speaks through dreams.
Not every dream holds spiritual significance, but some pierce through the fog of pain, confusion, or fear, and you just know that was from God.
Right after my separation, when everything in my life felt broken and chaotic, I had one of the most profound dreams I’ve ever experienced.
In the dream, there was a sudden shootout. People were running in every direction, panicked, scattered, and confused. No one knew where the danger was coming from. And then, I turned left and saw a field. In that field were soldiers, positioned behind large tyres like barricades. Without thinking, I jumped across into that field and hid behind a tree.
The next moment, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned, and standing there was a massive soldier. He looked right at me and said,
“You are safe now. The enemy can never cross that barricade, no matter how they try.”
Even now, I get chills just remembering it.
That dream became my anchor during the spiritual warfare that followed my separation. Because there was warfare. Real, heavy, invisible, but God had already shown me the truth that my children and I were divinely protected.
No matter how loud the chaos.
No matter how intense the attack.
The enemy could not cross the line God had drawn.
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:8
If you’ve had dreams that left an imprint on your spirit, don’t dismiss them. Write them down, pray over them, and ask God to reveal their meaning. He may be reminding you, preparing you, or simply assuring you that you’re not fighting alone.
6. Worship – The Sound That Stillness Rides In On
Worship clears the static.
It silences the chaos, not by force, but by realignment.
When you worship, you shift your eyes off the storm and back onto the One who walks on water.
Whether it’s through music, whispered prayers, lifted hands, tears falling in your car, or sitting in stillness with your heart wide open, worship softens the noise around you. It draws your soul closer to God, not because He suddenly speaks louder, but because you begin to lower everything else.
Sometimes in worship, clarity comes.
Peace comes.
Conviction comes.
Direction comes.
And often, without warning, His voice cuts through the fog and says, “I’m here.”
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” – John 4:24
Worship is more than a song; it’s surrender. It’s a sacred space where God meets you, holds you, heals you, and sometimes whispers what you’ve been desperate to hear all along.
If you’re struggling to hear God’s voice, try this: put on a worship song that stills your heart. Close your eyes. Breathe. Don’t strive to hear, just be. Let your worship rise, and watch how His presence settles everything else.
Read More: How worship can shift your emotions and bring peace
Creating Quiet in the Chaos – Making Room to Hear Him
We live in a world that runs on noise, notifications, opinions, obligations, and an endless stream of information. In the midst of it all, we crave God’s voice but forget that hearing Him often requires one thing most of us avoid: stillness.
But here’s the beautiful thing: you don’t need a silent retreat in the mountains to hear from God. You just need a little space, an intention, and a quiet moment where your heart can breathe and your soul can lean in.
Let’s talk about some simple, realistic ways to create quiet, even in the middle of real life.
Morning Stillness (Even Just 5 Minutes)
You don’t have to start your day with an hour-long devotional to hear from God. Even five minutes of silence before the world wakes up can shift your entire posture for the day.
Open your Bible. Sip your tea. Whisper a “Good morning, Lord.” Let Him be the first voice you tune into, not your emails or social feed.
Phone Fasts or Digital Detox Moments
Try putting your phone away for an hour (or more) and just be. No scrolling, background noise, or distractions. You’d be amazed how much spiritual clarity returns when your mind isn’t being pulled in 47 directions. The quiet may feel awkward at first, but stay with it. God often meets us in the space we protect for Him.
Breath Prayers and Silence
Breath prayers are a simple, ancient practice that quiets the mind and centers the soul.
Try breathing in, “Lord, You are here…”
Breathe out, “And I am listening.”
Repeat slowly. Let your body slow down. Let your thoughts settle. God isn’t far; He’s as close as your next breath.
Journaling What You Sense or Feel
God often speaks in whispers and impressions, not just sentences. Writing things down, like your prayers, thoughts, and what you feel Him nudging you toward, can help you process and notice His voice more clearly. Even just jotting down one thing you sensed during prayer can open your heart more each day.
Discernment – Is It God’s Voice or Mine?
So you’ve quieted the noise, made room to listen, and something stirs inside you, a thought, a nudge, or a whisper in your spirit. But now you’re left wondering: “Was that God or just me?”
You’re not alone in that question. Discernment is a spiritual muscle we grow over time. And God is not trying to trick us. He wants us to know His voice.
“My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” – John 10:27
Here are a few simple checkpoints to help you test what you’re hearing:
1. Does it align with Scripture?
God will never contradict His Word. Ever. If the message you’re sensing opposes what the Bible says, it’s not Him. His truth is unchanging, and the Holy Spirit will never lead you into confusion, sin, or compromise.
2. Does it bring peace and clarity?
Even when God convicts, He brings peace, not panic. If what you’re sensing leaves you feeling grounded, focused, or gently reassured, it’s likely Him. If it leaves you anxious, frantic, or rushed, pause. God doesn’t bully or manipulate. His voice brings peace, even in correction.
3. Is it consistent with His character?
God is patient, kind, just, merciful, loving, and holy. Does what you’re hearing reflect those attributes? Does it sound like the God who knows your name and still chose the cross for you? He’s not cruel. He doesn’t shame or condemn. His voice sounds like love wrapped in truth.
4. Does it produce the fruit of the Spirit?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” – Galatians 5:22–23
God’s voice will lead you toward spiritual fruit, not fleshly reactions. If what you’re sensing stirs humility, forgiveness, patience, or compassion, it’s likely from Him. If it leads to resentment, fear, pride, or haste, step back and pray.
A Simple Prayer for Discernment
Father, I want to hear You clearly.
Help me recognize Your voice above all others.
If this is from You, confirm it in my spirit with peace and truth.
If it’s not, close the door gently and guard my heart from confusion.
Teach me to trust Your timing, Your Word, and Your character.
I want to follow Your lead—not my feelings, fears, or assumptions.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
When He Seems Silent – Trusting in the Waiting
Sometimes the most challenging part of faith isn’t the fight, it’s the silence.
You’ve prayed, worshipped, journaled, fasted, and whispered through tears, “God, I just need to hear from You…”
And then… nothing. No dream, no confirmation, and no aha moment. Just silence.
But here’s what I want to remind you: his silence is not His absence gently. He hasn’t walked away, nor has he forgotten you, and he certainly hasn’t gone quiet out of cruelty.
More often than not, God’s silence is a strategic, sacred space where trust is deepened and your spirit is trained to listen beyond the noise.
“Be still and know that I am God…” – Psalm 46:10
Notice it doesn’t say be loud and know, or fix everything and know. It says be still. Stillness is where knowing takes root.
What Should I Do in the Silence?
When it feels like Heaven has gone quiet, here are a few things to hold onto:
Trust Him Anyway
Just because He’s not saying anything new doesn’t mean He’s not working. Sometimes, silence is the space where God is building the next chapter behind the scenes. Trust that the Author knows when to turn the page.
Worship While You Wait
Worship isn’t just for moments of clarity; it’s for moments of confusion. When you worship in the silence, you’re declaring, “Even if I can’t hear You, I still believe You’re good.” That kind of faith shakes Heaven.
Obey the Last Instruction
Go back to the last thing you know God told you to do. Has he already given you a word you haven’t yet walked out on? Obedience during silence is an act of trust, and trust is fertile ground for intimacy.
Sometimes, the whisper comes after the storm. After the crying, after the letting go, and after the “I don’t know what else to do but trust you anyway” moment. And when it comes, it’ll feel like home.
So if you’re in a silent season right now, take heart and remember that the God who speaks in whispers is still watching over you in the waiting.
With Love,
Dr. Janet
