How to Hear God

I used to think that when people said, “I heard God say,” he literally came right out and told them what he wanted them to know or do. A booming voice from the sky showed them the way. But I’ve realized (mostly the hard way) that’s not at all how it works. In my experience, God uses other people and seemingly random coincidences to communicate. However, some people still think like I used to, and they are apparently waiting around for audible communication or are not confident enough to act on the guidance they have received, because what if that “guidance” they’re sensing is just a coincidence?

First, in order to know what to look for as far as hearing from God is concerned, we need to pray about the question or situation. If you haven’t experienced an answer in a while, it can be easy to just assume God knows what is on your mind and that if he wants to give it to you, he will. But he wants a relationship with you most of all, and that involves constant communication. When most of us pray, however, we do all the talking. We explain what’s going on, why it needs to be fixed, and we tend to ask for a specific solution that we think is the best and only one. This style of communication can make it tough for even the Creator of the universe to get a word in. It’s likely rare that we just sit still and wait for him to respond. We need to assume that he will answer us, not only if he feels it is worth his time.

Second, he hardly ever responds in the way we expect him to. We get so focused on looking for x, y, or z as the answer to our prayers, we miss out when a, b, or c is actually the answer. The truth is that we can never truly appreciate all that needs to happen in order for God to answer our prayers. Ideas need to be planted, hearts need to be aligned, and feet need to move. Just because you don’t see instant changes doesn’t mean he’s not working. He usually does the impossible in unexpected ways and at seemingly random times. Consider Scripture. He used a rock to defeat a giant, a staff to part the Red Sea, marching in circles and blowing a trumpet to bring down a city wall, and a little boy’s lunch to feed the masses. It is almost certain that he will answer our prayers in ways we don’t see coming.

Finally, he will repeat himself if we don’t hear him or don’t think what we heard his the answer. It’s never a one-and-done situation with God. But it becomes a lot easier to get our attention when we bring him into our every day, and not just our Sunday mornings. I have come to see coincidences as his guidance. Personally, when trusted people in my life randomly bring up the same topic within a few days of each other, I have learned to recognize that as my answer from God.

Recently, it was the idea of fasting. I prayed for help because I was experiencing writer’s block. That Sunday, my church devoted an entire Sunday sermon to fasting. Our pastor noted that the scriptural example was in regards to food, but he also mentioned that giving up anything for the sake of some special spiritual purpose is a valid form of fasting. In any kind of fasting, we make space for God so that we can receive more of him. By removing whatever distraction we are experiencing, even for a short time, we are able to concentrate more on God. Then, in my small group (through a different church), along the same lines, we were talking about priorities and how even positive things can distract us from God’s purpose for us. And then, in a podcast I frequently listen to, a guest mentioned that she fasts whenever she has to make a big decision.

These three instances combined told me I needed to fast. Rather than fasting from food, I abstained from social media, and I was soon able to finish my writing. These are all personal, small instances in which I heard from God, and I think such smallness is why we tend to overlook this kind of communication from him. They are like nudges and whispers rather than a shout from the rooftops. But I’ve found that I am much more likely to act on something because I believe it is part of God’s guidance when reassurance comes from multiple sources.

What does hearing from God look like for you? Get connected to many faith-based sources: church, Bible study, books, podcasts, and so on. Be open, willing, and observant. He wants to help you do what’s best for yourself, so he will try to get your attention in any way necessary. If you are open to unexpected answers instead of focusing on that booming voice from the sky, and bring God into your everyday life through prayer and spiritual relationships, then you’ll be more apt to hear him. He has been speaking to you already, and you just have to learn what to listen for.

Jess Gilardi was a mental health therapist in the school system before becoming the full-time chaos coordinator for her family (aka stay-at-home mom). She and her husband have three young kids. Jess started writing in hopes that by sharing her stories and lessons learned, she can help others learn “the easy way.”