Are You Listening 

Why can’t I hear God’s voice? This is a question that most of us have probably asked at some point.  When we are struggling, there are many conclusions that we may draw about why we can’t hear His voice. Is it because He isn’t actually speaking to me? Is He disappointed and has given up on me? Or maybe He just doesn’t love me at all.  

Luke 8:8 says, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.” This scripture is puzzling. I have ears, so why can’t I hear the voice of God? Think about the reasons you don’t hear those around you. Those may be the same reasons you can’t hear God’s voice. 

• Too Busy – Several years ago some of my students enjoyed Pig Latin. If I listened closely, I could decipher their message, but most of the time I was simply too busy. Our lives are so busy! We are constantly busy going and doing. Busy working. Busy worrying. Busy raising kids. Busy with technology. The list just goes on and on with things we must do. Is it possible that you don’t hear God because you are too busy?
• Tuned out – I’ve had conversations with my husband while grading papers, cooking, or anything. I heard his voice, but I may not have really heard him because my focus was on something else. Sometimes we don’t hear people because we’ve already made up our mind, and theres no changing it regardless what is said. So we simply tune them out. Then there are times that we honestly don’t want to hear what someone says. We know they may be right, but we don’t want to admit it. So we tune them out. Could you be tuning God out because you aren’t focused on Him, you’ve already made up your mind, or you just really don’t want to hear what He has to say? 

Luke 8:18 says, “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” Its important that we are careful to listen so that we can grow in understanding His will for our lives. 

So maybe God really is speaking to me (and you), but we just aren’t listening. If I really wanted to understand the Pig Latin, I could. If I really want to hear those around me, I will focus rather than tune them out. If I really want to hear God’s voice, then I will make time to listen and focus on Him. I can’t hear him by just reading the bible. I must slow down, meditate on the Word, search for how God wants me to apply it to my life, and allow Him the opportunity to speak.  That’s when I’ll hear the voice of God!