And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” – 1 Samuel 3:10 NLT
God is always speaking. There will be moments when we feel like we can’t hear Him or don’t know how to hear Him, but we can be assured that no matter what, He is always speaking.
So how does He speak?
The primary way God speaks to us now is through His Word, the Bible. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The Word of God is alive and powerful” (NLT). Other translations of this verse in Hebrews say that the Bible is “living and active.” That doesn’t mean that the intended meaning of the Scriptures ever changes; rather, God’s Word is true, eternal, and applicable to every person, in every context across history.
Second Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (NLT). While much of the Bible is a history of God’s people and His faithfulness to them despite their unfaithfulness to Him, its principles and promises can still be applied today. God’s commands are still for us, intended not to restrict us but to give us the freedom to live fully in Him.
God also speaks to us through other people. Surrounding yourself with people who are walking in obedience to God, serving Him faithfully, and loving Him with all their strength is critically important. God can speak through these people—just like He speaks through His Word—to bring us encouragement, support, love, guidance, and correction when we need it.
Beyond these two ways, how God speaks to each person individually may vary based on their personalities and tendencies. He speaks in many ways; He’s never limited in how He can communicate with us! But the most important thing to remember is that God’s voice will never contradict His Word. When you need to test whether something you hear is from Him or not, take it back to Scripture. If it goes against what the Bible says, you can guarantee that it’s not from God.
Trust that God is always speaking, and that He desires continual conversation with you. In moments when you feel like you can’t hear His voice, pray and ask Him to quiet the noise, distractions, and anything else in your heart that may be preventing you from hearing Him.
