Hearing God’s Voice Clearly

A simple, biblical framework for recognizing God’s voice, and knowing what to do next.

Hi, I’m Pastor Chris, and I write Faith Unplugged, a newsletter that helps people hear God more clearly. If this article helps you, please consider a free or paid subscription. You can also send coffee… actually, please send coffee. 😊

You’ve prayed. You’ve waited. And now… something inside you stirs.

You think you’ve heard something, a whisper, a nudge, a sudden clarity you cannot quite explain.

But here’s the problem. Was that really God, or was it just your gut?

Or maybe that quiet voice of guilt is trying to steer you somewhere you are not sure you should go?

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Recognizing God’s Voice

We have all been there, caught between faith and uncertainty. Wanting direction so badly you replay the moment over and over in your mind.

You do not want to rush ahead and make a decision that is not from Him.

But you also do not want to miss a moment when He is speaking honestly.

And here is the thing. You are not alone in that struggle. The Bible is full of people who had to pause, listen, and wrestle with the same question:

“Lord… was that You?”

The good news is that God is not hiding.

He is not playing some celestial game of keep-away with His voice.

He delights to guide His children.

The question is not whether He is speaking. It is whether we have learned to recognize Him when He does.

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Did I Hear God’s Voice?

When we first moved out of state to the church we’re part of now, it honestly wasn’t easy.

Everything felt new.

The faces, the way services flowed, even the little unspoken traditions that everyone else seemed to know.

Some Sundays we left wondering if we’d misheard God entirely.

But over time, that started to change.

We had a few good conversations.

We prayed with people who quickly felt like friends.

And slowly, trust began to come easier.

What once felt foreign started to feel like family.

Looking back, I can see God’s hand in all of it, even in the awkward beginnings, showing us that His leading is worth following even when the road feels uncertain at first.

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The Boy Who Heard a Voice in the Night

Samuel was just a boy when it happened.

He was serving in the temple under Eli. One night, he lay down to sleep when he heard it:

"Samuel, Samuel!" (1 Samuel 3:4, ESV)

Thinking it was Eli, he ran to him.

“I’m here. You called me.”

But Eli shook his head. “I didn’t call. Go lie down.”

It happened again.

And again.

Three times, Samuel heard the voice. Three times, he went to Eli. Three times he got it wrong.

Finally, Eli realized what was happening. He told Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” (1 Samuel 3:9, ESV)

Samuel went back to bed. The voice came again. And this time, he knew who it was.

The truth? Even someone as important as Samuel had to learn how to recognize God’s voice.

And so will we.

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5 Steps to Recognizing God’s Voice

1. Expect God to Speak

If you believe God is silent, you won’t be listening.

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27, ESV).

Faith starts with expecting Him to speak into your life.

2. Test It Against Scripture

God will never tell you to do something that goes against His Word.

If the “word” you heard contradicts the Bible, it’s not from Him. Period.

3. Check the Fruit

God’s direction produces peace, clarity, and alignment with His character.

The enemy’s voice produces confusion, fear, and shame (Galatians 5:22–23).

4. Seek Wise Counsel

Samuel needed Eli’s guidance to recognize God’s voice. You and I need people who know

Him well and can confirm or challenge what we think we’ve heard (Proverbs 11:14).

5. Wait for Confirmation

God is not in a hurry. If it’s genuinely from Him, it will stand the test of time.

Patience can protect you from making an emotional decision.

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Before you scroll away…

God is speaking. Not in riddles. Not in whispers meant to confuse you.

Your job is to lean in, stay in His Word, and test what you hear.

Don’t let fear of getting it wrong keep you from listening.

This week, make space for Him to speak, and be ready to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.”