IN CONVERSATION WITH GOD

Hearing and Listening for His Voice

One of my favourite passages of Scripture is the account of God’s conversation with Samuel. Samuel was very young when he went to live with Eli. His mother had promised to dedicate him to God if God gave her a child.

Before this conversation, young Samuel had not spoken with God or heard His voice. The Bible says, “Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him” (1 Samuel 3:7, NIV).

There is always a first time for everything, and this was Samuel’s first time hearing God speak. God called, “Samuel!” Since this was new to Samuel, and he expected only Eli to call him, he mistook God’s voice for Eli’s. He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

This happened three times. Each time God called, Samuel responded by running to Eli.

After the third call, Eli realized that the Lord was calling Samuel and told him how to answer.

Then something remarkable happened. The Bible says,

“The LORD came and stood there.”

God stood there! He remained there, calling Samuel: “Samuel! Samuel!”

This time, Samuel recognized that God was calling him and answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10, NIV).

God had a message for Samuel. He wanted to speak with him and was willing to remain there, calling and waiting for Samuel to recognize His voice and answer.

As I reflected on this, I thought about how many times God may have tried to get my attention, but I mistook His voice for another. How many times has He waited for me to hear His call, receive His direction, or listen to a message about things to come—and I did not pay attention?

Without Eli’s guidance, Samuel might not have recognized that it was God calling him.

We, too, may miss moments of conversation with God if we do not learn to recognize His voice and the ways He calls us to Himself. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27, NIV).

Learning to recognize God’s voice requires discernment. His voice will never contradict His written Word. If we fail to recognize God’s voice, we may also miss the guidance, revelation, comfort, and intimacy that come from conversing with Him.

Conversing with God helps us know His mind concerning the events in our lives. God can reveal things about others, as He did with Samuel when He revealed the sins of Eli’s sons and the judgment that would come upon Eli’s household.

He can give us guidance when we face our enemies and show us a way forward, as He did with David. A conversation with God can answer our questions, correct us, comfort us, or guide us onto the right path. He might even reveal something about our struggles and give us insight into how to overcome them.

Scripture confirms that God invites us into conversation with Him:

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

—Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

Many people in the Bible enjoyed this intimacy with God and spoke with Him. God encouraged Joshua, instructed him, and assured him of His presence (Joshua 1:1–9).

Gideon questioned God repeatedly, and God patiently answered and reassured him (Judges 6:11–24, 36–40). When Rebekah was troubled by her pregnancy, she inquired of the Lord, and He answered her (Genesis 25:22–23). These are only a few examples.

God still desires a close relationship with us and wants us to speak with Him. Scripture invites us, “Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8, NIV).

He wants us to draw near and speak with Him, just as Samuel and the others did.

But What Is Stopping Us?

Busy, busy, busy.

We are so occupied with everything that we rarely have time to stop, sit still, and hear Him speak. Just as Samuel initially struggled to recognize God’s voice, we, too, can become distracted by competing voices.

When Jesus visited Mary and Martha’s home, He saw this same busyness and said to Martha, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41–42, NIV).

But it need not remain this way. Martha’s encounter with Jesus urges us to stop. Sit still. Enter into conversation with God by meditating on His Word, connecting with Him in quiet moments, and listening for what He wants to say.

As our days unfold, let us find some quiet amid all the surrounding noise. Let us listen for His voice and hear Him speak to us. Our lives will be richer for it.

May the Lord give us listening ears, and may we learn to distinguish His voice from all other voices. In Jesus name. Amen!