God invites each of us into a personal relationship with Him, and just like any healthy relationship, communication goes both ways. We often know what we want to tell God—our prayers, hopes, fears, and thanks. However, it can be much more challenging to recognize when God is trying to communicate with us or to understand what He is saying.
Many people ask, “How do I know if God is speaking to me?” This question is not new. In the Bible, in 1 Samuel 3, God speaks directly to the young Samuel. At first, Samuel is confused and doesn’t realize it is God’s voice he is hearing. It takes the wisdom of Eli, Samuel’s mentor, to guide him. Eli tells Samuel that if he hears the voice again, he should respond, “Speak, your servant is listening.” This teaches us that being open and receptive is an important part of hearing from God.
Learning to recognize God’s voice requires discernment—a spiritual skill that develops over time. One of the primary ways God speaks to us today is through the Holy Spirit, especially when we read and reflect on Scripture. The Bible serves as our ultimate guide for understanding God’s character and His will for our lives. The more familiar we are with Scripture, the more we can use it as a filter to help us recognize what aligns with God's love and truth, and what does not.
As we consistently compare our thoughts, feelings, and decisions with what we know from Scripture, it becomes easier to tell what is from God and what is not. However, even those who regularly read the Bible and seek to follow God can still face uncertainty. There are big decisions in life—such as financial choices (Should I buy this car? Should I wait?), health decisions (Should I pursue this treatment?), or questions about moving or changing jobs—where God’s guidance is not always obvious in the moment. Sometimes, we only recognize that God was guiding us when we look back on a situation and see how things unfolded.
It’s important to remember that God desires clarity for us, especially regarding His love and His presence in our lives. Our relationship with Him is meant to be interactive and ongoing. At the heart of His message is the assurance of His love, demonstrated through Jesus Christ. When we accept this love, God begins to transform us. He gives us a new foundation—one that is built on forgiveness and the righteousness that comes from Christ’s life and sacrifice.
Ultimately, God has spoken to us most clearly through Jesus. By trusting in Him and staying grounded in Scripture, we can grow in our ability to hear God’s voice and be confident in His guidance, even when life feels uncertain.
