God is speaking way more than most of us realize. The question is whether we know how to hear Him. Jesus said, "The sheep hear his voice… for they know his voice" (John 10:3–4 ESV). It's normal for a child of God to hear from God.
Now, when I say God speaks, some of you get nervous. You're picturing the guy who says "God told me" about everything, including what to order at Chick-fil-A. Or you're thinking, "God's never spoken out loud to me, so I guess He only talks to pastors." Neither is true. Here's how He speaks:
1. Through the Bible
This is the main way, by far. "All Scripture is breathed out by God" (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV). If you want a word from God, open the Word of God. Too often we want to hear from God while our Bibles are closed. And the Bible is also the filter for everything else you think you hear. God will never cosign your disobedience to what He's already said in His Word. I can't count how many people have told me they "have peace" about something the Bible clearly calls sin. That's not God.
2. Through natural things
The Bible won't tell you who to marry or which job to take. For those decisions, God often uses:
Open and closed doors. Sometimes He opens the right one and shuts all the wrong ones.
Other people. "In an abundance of counselors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14 ESV).
Gifted teachers. Sometimes the sermon feels like it was written for you because, well, God knew you'd be there.
3. Through supernatural things
A quiet inner voice. God wasn't in the wind, the earthquake or the fire. He was in "the sound of a low whisper" (1 Kings 19:12 ESV). Honestly, most of the time God's voice sounds like your own thoughts, but it comes with His presence and His peace.
Peace. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" (Colossians 3:15 ESV). That word rule means to umpire. God's peace calls the decision safe or out. One warning: be careful with "peace" in dating relationships. Follow wisdom, not emotions.
Conviction. The Holy Spirit will "convict the world concerning sin" (John 16:8 ESV). That gross feeling in your gut when you're doing something wrong? Pay attention to it.
Dreams, visions and prophetic words. Not every dream is from God (that pizza at 11 p.m. wasn't a word from the Lord). But some are. Write them down and run them by a leader you trust.
You might be wondering, "How do I know if it's actually God?" Every thought has a source: you, your past (like the voice of a bully or a parent), the enemy, or God. Ask four questions:
Is it consistent with the Bible?
Will it make me more like Jesus?
Do the godly people in my life confirm it?
Do I sense God's peace about it?
One night, Megan and I kept hearing a weird noise in the house. To her, it sounded like running water. To me, it sounded like time to roll over and go to sleep. She searched every room and finally found our Google Home in the basement, playing rainforest sounds. The kids had moved it. She refused to rest until she found the source. That's what discerning God's voice looks like.
When young Samuel didn't recognize God's voice, Eli told him to pray, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:9 NLT). That's still a great place to start.
Scripture: John 10:3–5; 2 Timothy 3:16; Galatians 1:8; Proverbs 11:14; 1 Kings 19:11–13; Colossians 3:15; John 16:8; 1 Samuel 3:1–10; Hebrews 5:14; 2 Corinthians 10:5