Unmuting the Voice of God

Yesterday we confronted the voice of the inner critic, but God wasn’t done. There’s another voice we need to hear again: His.

Here’s a sobering truth that many of us carry quietly, sometimes, in muting ourselves we end up muting God too. Not out of rebellion. Not because we’ve turned away. But simply because the volume of His voice has been drowned out by pain, fear, shame, being busy, disappointment, and grief.

Have you ever been there?

You obeyed what you thought you heard.

You took the leap and hit a wall.

You waited on His voice and heard silence.

And in that silence, something shifted. Maybe you began to rely more on your own instincts. Or deferred to the loudest voice in the room. Or maybe, unknowingly, you traded the whisper of the Spirit for the noise of culture, the grind of self-effort, or the repetition of your own doubt. But here’s the good news of the gospel, God has not stopped speaking. Even when we’ve stopped listening. Even when we’ve felt unworthy to hear.

Jesus says it clearly in John 10:27,

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

That’s a promise, not a possibility. If you belong to Him, then hearing His voice is part of your spiritual DNA. So the question is not “Is God speaking?” It’s “Am I postured to listen?”

Why Do We Mute God?

Let’s get honest. Here are a few patterns I’ve seen in my own life and in the hearts of those I walk alongside:

• Sin and shame: Like Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, we hide when we’ve messed up. We pull away, hoping to avoid the gaze of the One who loves us most.
• Disappointment: When the prayers go unanswered or the outcome isn’t what we hoped for, we start to believe the lie that His silence equals absence.
• Fear of what He might say: If we’re honest, sometimes we’re not ready for His answer. Not ready for the call, the course correction, or the cost.
• Spiritual fatigue: We’ve been running on empty, serving, performing, striving and somewhere along the way, we forgot how to sit at His feet and be still (Luke 10:38–42).

But friend, none of this disqualifies you. The Shepherd knows how to find His sheep even when they’ve wandered far or fallen silent.

How Do We Begin to Hear Him Again?

Hearing God’s voice isn’t a formula. It’s a relationship. But here are a few truths to anchor you as you tune back in:

• Be still. Elijah didn’t hear God in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire but in a whisper (1 Kings 19:12). God often speaks in stillness, not volume.
• Be saturated in the Word. The more Scripture we store in our hearts, the more clearly we’ll recognize when He’s speaking. His voice never contradicts His Word (Psalm 119:105).
• Be open. He speaks in ways we don’t always expect through people, dreams, impressions, nature, even interruptions (Job 33:14–16).
• Be obedient. Hearing and obeying are connected. The more we say yes to what He’s already said, the more sensitive we become to what He’s saying next (John 14:23).
• Be expectant. Ask Him to speak, and believe that He will (Jeremiah 33:3). Faith isn’t just about action; it’s about anticipation.

Let's Pray Out Loud

Lord, I confess that I’ve let other voices grow louder than Yours. Whether through distraction, discouragement, or disobedience, I’ve quieted the only voice that truly matters. But today, I’m returning to You with open ears and a soft heart. Speak, Lord—through Your Word, Your Spirit, and the stillness. Restore the intimacy of our communion. Help me recognize Your whisper above the noise. Teach me to sit still long enough to hear. I want to follow, fully and freely. Amen.

Living It Out Loud

Reflect: Where have I unknowingly turned down the volume of God's voice in my life?

Do: Set aside 15–30 minutes of stillness this week. No music. No agenda. Just your Bible, a journal, and space to listen. Ask God to speak and write what you sense, even if it’s just one word or verse.

Declare: I was created to hear the voice of God. His Word is alive in me, and His Spirit is still speaking. I will listen, trust, and follow.