9. How to Hear God Speak When You Need Direction

How to Hear God Speak When You Need Direction
 
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 If you’ve ever felt like you don’t hear God or struggle to recognise His voice, you’re not alone. In this episode, we unpack why hearing from God often feels confusing — especially when you’re seeking direction — and how to actually understand the way He speaks. This isn’t about waiting for a dramatic moment or a clear voice, but learning to recognise God through relationship, Scripture, and daily life. You’ll walk away with a grounded, practical way to seek God and move forward with peace and confidence.

 In this video, you’ll learn:
 • Why you feel like God isn’t speaking
 • How God actually speaks (and why it’s often subtle)
 • The biggest misconception about hearing God
 • How to recognise God’s voice through relationship
 • A simple, practical way to seek direction in real life

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 When you just want God to make it clear...
0:23 Why does God speak to others… but not me?
0:31 Maybe God isn’t silent?
1:50 Why we expect God's voice to be obvious
3:07 Am I doing something wrong?
4:20 No one taught us how this works
6:12 What God is actually doing

 Watch This Next  ➡
 Why You Don’t Feel Close to God - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBqU9R-0TXw&t=9s

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: Pretty Deep Podcast  ➡ https://www.youtube.com/@PrettyDeepPodcast

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Question - What’s one area in your life right now where you’re asking God for direction?

Disclaimer: This video is not sponsored.

#HearGod #ChristianWomen #FaithJourney #SpiritualGrowth #GodsVoice

About:
 Welcome to Pretty Deep — a space where we talk about the real things women carry and unpack the deeper truths about God, identity, and life. New episodes weekly to help you grow in faith, clarity, and confidence.

DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational and inspirational purposes only and reflects personal experiences and Biblical perspectives.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Have you ever had a decision to make and you just wish that God would make it more obvious what you're meant to do? You're praying, you're asking, and you really don't want to get it wrong. But nothing feels clear. And then you hear other people saying things like, I felt God leading me, or God told me to do this. And if you're really honest, part of you starts wondering, why don't I have that? Why does God seem to guide other people, but not me? Maybe the reason this feels so confusing isn't because God is silent, but because something about the way we expect him to speak is not quite right. We think hearing from God should be clear and obvious and certain. Like there'll be this moment where everything just clicks and all the doubt disappears. But that's not how it works. And I know that because I've been in that exact place. I loved God, I was in church, but I definitely didn't know how to walk closely with him or recognize his voice in my everyday life. And over time I realized something that completely changed the way I see God and why so many of us feel like we're not hearing him. In this episode, we're going to talk about how God actually speaks and why so many women feel like they are not hearing him, and how you can start recognizing his voice when you need direction in your life. Please stay with me till the end because I'm going to give you a really simple, grounded way to seek God, especially when you need clarity in real life and when you're trying to make a decision. When we think about hearing from God, most of us already have a picture in our minds of what that should look like. We think it should be clear and obvious and certain. You know, like you'll just know. Like there'll be this strong feeling or a very clear answer or something dramatic that removes all our doubts. And this becomes specially intense when you're trying to make a decision. You might be sitting there with something that really matters to you. Maybe it's about your work, a relationship, a decision about your family, or a direction you feel like you're meant to take. And you're praying something like, Lord, please show me what to do. Please make it clear. I really don't want to get this wrong. And you're waiting, you're listening, you're trying to feel something or sense something or hear something, but nothing feels clear, nothing feels obvious. And slowly that question starts to creep in. Why is this so hard? And you hear other people talking about being led or having a clear sense of direction from God. And instead of feeling encouraged, you feel a little more confused, a little more unsure, maybe even a little left out. And that's usually when the thoughts start. Maybe I'm not hearing him properly. Maybe I'm missing something. Or maybe I'm just not one of those people God speaks to like that. And without even realizing it, you start to assume that something is wrong with you, with your faith, with your ability to hear from God. But here's something I didn't realize for a long time. Most people are not struggling because God isn't speaking. They're struggling because they don't recognize how he speaks. And when you don't recognize how God speaks, it can quietly lead to a whole set of assumptions, not always loud or conscious, but they sit underneath the way you're thinking. It'll be things like, maybe God speaks to other people like that, but not to me. Maybe if he was speaking, I'd feel more sure. Maybe it would be obvious and clear and unmistakable. And when it's not, we start questioning ourselves. Am I doing something wrong? Am I not spiritual enough? Am I missing something? And over time, without even realizing it, you can start to believe something deeper. That hearing from God is something that just happens to certain people. But what if the issue isn't that God is speaking to some people and not to others? What if it's that we've never really been shown how this actually works? And what if the issue isn't that God is speaking to some people and not others? Because here's the truth: God does speak. And he speaks in many different ways. But hearing him is not about catching a signal, it's about recognizing a voice. And that changes everything. Because a voice is not something you detect once, it's something you become familiar with over time. It's relational. Think about it like this: if someone you love calls you on the phone, you don't need them to introduce themselves. You don't need them to say, Hi, it's me. You recognize their voice instantly. Not because they are louder or clearer, not because there's something dramatic about it. But because you know them. You've spent time with them, you've had conversations with them. You have heard them speak in different situations. When they are calm, when they are excited, when they are worried, when they're giving advice. And over time, without even trying, you've just become familiar with how they sound. Now, compare that to a stranger. Say a stranger calls you. You don't recognize their voice. You need for them to explain who they are. You need context, you need clarity. And even then, you're still unsure. And this is the difference. God's voice is not something you detect, it's something you learn to recognize. So when we expect hearing from God to feel like a sudden, dramatic, unmistakable moment, we can miss the way he's already speaking. Because most of the time, God is not trying to overwhelm you with clarity. He's inviting you into relationship. And in relationship, things don't always come all at once. You don't always get the full picture. You don't always feel completely certain. You don't always get a clear, this is exactly what to do next. Instead, you begin to walk with him. You begin to spend time with him. You begin to read his word and understand what he's like. You begin to talk to him honestly about what's going on in your life. And slowly something begins to shift. Not always in a dramatic way. Not all at once, but gradually. You start to recognize what sounds like him, what aligns with his character, what reflects what you see in scripture, what carries his peace. And this is where many of us get stuck because we're looking for something external, a sign, a voice, a moment that removes all our doubts. When what God is actually building is something internal, a familiarity, a sensitivity, a relationship. So it's not that God is silent or distant, it's that we recognize his voice most clearly as we grow in relationship with him. So, what does this actually look like in real life? Because this is where things start to become clearer. Hearing from God is not usually one big dramatic moment where everything suddenly makes sense. It's much more like a relationship that grows over time. It looks like being in his word and not just reading it quickly, but actually asking, what is this showing me about God? What is he like? How does he think? How does he respond to people? What does he value? It looks like talking to him honestly, not trying to say the right thing in the right oldy worldly words, not trying to sound spiritual or knowing all these fabulous prayers, but just real conversation, bringing your thoughts, your questions, your confusion to him. It looks like bringing your decisions to him and sitting with them over time, not rushing to force an answer, not panicking because you don't know yet, but staying in conversation with him, just like you would with another person that you love and trust and are in a relationship with. And this is something we touched on in the last couple of episodes. The more time you spend in God's word, getting to know his character, his nature, how he loves you, how he thinks about you, something will start to change in you. The Bible describes this as being transformed by the renewing of your mind. See Romans 12, verse 2. Now that might sound like a big spiritual phrase, but in real life, it's very simple. It just means that your thinking starts to shift. The way you see things starts to change. Before you might look at a situation and think about it one way, based on fear or pressure or what other people expect. But as you spend time with God, you begin to see things differently. You start to think, what would honor God here? What reflects his character? What aligns with what I've seen in his word? And the ever-popular, what would Jesus do? And even your desires begin to shift. Things you once wanted strongly sometimes don't feel as important anymore. And the things you didn't think about before, they start to matter more. And this is where something really powerful happens. Your heart begins to align with his heart. And when your heart aligns with God's, hearing him becomes less confusing. Because it's no longer about trying to decode a message from the outside. It's about recognizing what is already aligned with him on your inside. And then you start to notice something. There are certain thoughts that align with his word, certain directions that reflect his character, or certain things that bring a quiet sense of peace. Not always instantly, but as you sit with them. Because a lot of us are waiting for one clear loud answer. When in reality, God is often guiding us through a series of smaller, quieter steps. You are not failing at hearing God. You've just never been shown how it actually works. And once you understand this, the pressure starts to lift. Because you realize that you don't have to get it perfect. You don't have to hear one exact sentence. You don't have to wait till you feel completely certain. That's not how this works. Instead, you begin to walk with God in a much more natural way. You bring things to him, you stay connected to him, you pay attention over time. And as you do that, you begin to recognize his voice more clearly. Not because he suddenly started speaking, but because you are becoming more familiar with him. So, what does this actually look like when you need direction? Let me walk you through this in a really simple, real way. First, and this is the foundation for everything. God primarily speaks through his word. Because when you're in scripture consistently, you're not just reading information, you're getting to know God. You're discovering his character, his nature, what he values, how he leads, how he acts in different situations. And then that becomes the filter through which you begin to recognize his voice. And this is where you can be really intentional. If you're facing a specific situation, like a decision, a relationship, a direction, go to scripture with that in mind. Ask, what has God already said about this? What does the Bible say about wisdom, relationships, patience, provision, or whatever it is that you are looking for an answer for? Because often the clarity you're looking for is already there. Not as a step-by-step instruction, but as guidance that shapes how you think and choose. Then, as you grow in that relationship, you begin to notice the prompting of the Holy Spirit. And this isn't always dramatic. Sometimes it's a nudge or it's a pause. Sometimes it's that something is not sitting right, even when everything looks good on the surface. For me, I've learned to pay attention to that. Not as a one-off feeling, but as something that I sit with. There have been moments where something looked perfect on paper. Everything made sense logically, everything lined up externally, but internally there was just a lack of peace. And I've learned not to ignore that. For example, a couple of years ago, we were looking for land to build our home because our family had grown and we needed more space. We found after months of looking what we thought was the perfect block of land. We were so ready to make an offer the next day. But that night I had an unsettled feeling, and I recognized that as God guiding me. So instead of pushing ahead, I paused, I prayed, I sat with it. Another day was not going to make a difference in the big scheme of things. And then I looked into it more carefully, and I found something that completely changed things. This was not the right piece of land for us. So we didn't go ahead. And honestly, that was disappointing. We had very specific criteria, and it felt like after months of searching, we had finally found something that fit. And now I was feeling like we shouldn't offer on it. Anyway, we chose to trust God. And lo and behold, within two weeks, we found the right place. There was peace this time, there was alignment this time, and there was agreement between my husband and I. That's the home we live in now. And this is important because God's guidance is not always about giving you aloud. Yes. Sometimes it's about a quiet, steady, not this. But then there are other times when it's not about stopping, it's about stepping forward. I've told this story many times on the podcast, but it begs repeating because this incident, it actually changed the trajectory of my life. I was very young, just starting out in my working life and trying to figure out what direction to take in my career. And at that time, I came across the contact details of the editor for a magazine that I really admired. I had probably read every issue of that magazine. And something in me felt like I should reach out. Now there was no dramatic moment, no voice from the clouds, no certainty. In fact, I really felt quite unsure. There were all these thoughts in my head. Why would she even respond to you? Brand new out of design school, no actual byline in any magazine or newspaper. You're not qualified enough. You're going to embarrass yourself. But there was also this quiet sense, just try. Take the step. What can you lose? So I did. I picked up the phone and called her. And that one small, uncertain, terrified step opened the door to my first writing opportunity, which eventually turned into a whole career. I'm still writing 20 some odd years later. And looking back now, I can see that clearly. But in the moment, I didn't have the whole picture. I just had the next step. God usually doesn't give you the full answer, he gives you the next step. And this is how he often leads. Not by laying out the whole five-point plan in front of you, but by inviting you to walk with him one step at a time. So when you need direction, this is what it can look like in a really simple way. Start by anchoring yourself in his word. Come back to what you already know to be true and let that shape how you see the situation that's in front of you. Bring the decision to God consistently, not just once and then give up, but again and again over time. Talk to him about it. Be honest about what you're feeling and thinking. Because you know what? God already knows everything anyway. So just lay it all out before him. You're not trying to get it right. You're building relationship with him. Pay attention to what's happening internally. Journal about it if that feels right to you. What's feeling unsettled? What's feeling settled? What keeps coming back? And you know what? Don't rush that process. Sometimes clarity forms slowly as you sit with things. Invite wise, godly counsel into the process. For me, this is a big one. My husband and I don't make major decisions without being in agreement. We pray separately and together. We talk a lot. We wait. And this is the hardest part. But sometimes we also speak to trusted godly people who know us and also know God. You know, friends, elders, pastors, faith leaders. And then little by little we start to see alignment. Not instantly or perfectly, but gradually. And practically, this looks like what you're reading in scripture. Something you see there makes sense in that situation and jumps out at you. Or what you're sensing internally, what wise counsel is confirming, and what brings a sense of peace. They all begin to line up. And when that happens, clarity will start to form. Not always as a loud answer, but as a quiet confidence in the direction that you're moving. And sometimes that alignment doesn't come straight away. Sometimes something looks good, but there's hesitation or something doesn't sit right. And in those moments, instead of forcing a decision, you go back, you pray again, you wait some more, and you stay connected with God. Because his guidance is not something you rush, it's something you walk in. And this needs saying, even though it sounds a little dramatic, God can speak in more unexpected ways through dreams, through visions, through very clear moments. But those are not the foundation. The foundation is always relationship. Walking with him daily, being in his word, talking to him, in conversation. You speak, wait and let him speak back and forth. Speaking and listening, and learning his voice when he speaks. And when you live like that, hearing him becomes far less confusing. Not because everything is suddenly obvious, but because you're no longer trying to figure it out on your own. So if you've been sitting there thinking, I just don't hear God, or I don't know what he's saying, I hope that this has helped you see something differently. God is not silent. But hearing him is not about waiting for one loud, unmistakable moment. It grows in relationship as you spend time with him, as you read his word, as you talk to him honestly, and as you walk with him over time, you will begin to recognize his voice. And you don't have to have it all figured out. You don't have to get it perfect. You don't need complete certainty before you take a step. You can start exactly where you are. And maybe the shift for you today is this. What if God has been speaking and you are just learning how to recognize Him? If this episode encouraged you, please make sure you like and subscribe to the channel. It really helps more women find this message and grow in their relationship with God. And I would love to hear from you. What's one area in your life right now where you're seeking God for direction? You can share that in the comments below if you feel comfortable to do that. And if this resonated with you, I want to point you to another episode that connects so beautifully with this one. It's called Why You Don't Feel Close to God. Because that relationship is where everything that we've talked about today begins. Thank you so much for being here and for spending this time with me. I value it more than you know. I'm so glad you're here. I will see you in the next episode. Much love.