In John 10:27, Jesus says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” That one sentence carries a promise and an identity. If you belong to Jesus, you can hear Him. Hearing God isn’t reserved for the “super spiritual.” It’s part of the relationship you were created for.

But that doesn’t mean it always feels easy. We live in a world that disciples our attention. The constant input can train us to react instead of reflect, to scroll instead of listen, to rush instead of remain. Even good things, like serving others, caring for grandchildren, volunteering at church, or staying busy with a home-based business, can become loud enough to crowd out the stillness where clarity grows.

First Kings 19 gives us a beautiful picture of this. Elijah was exhausted, discouraged, and afraid. He needed direction. And when God met him, it wasn’t in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire. God came in a gentle whisper. Many translations call it a “still small voice.” That’s often how He speaks: not to compete with your chaos, but to invite you out of it.

When you’re trying to discern the next step, it’s tempting to treat God like a GPS. We want turn-by-turn directions, quickly. But the Lord is more interested in relationship than rushing. He doesn’t just give answers; He forms hearts.

Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” The word “rule” here carries the idea of an umpire, a decision-maker that calls what’s in and what’s out. Peace is one of God’s most faithful markers. Not comfort. Not ease. But a deep, steady assurance that you’re moving in alignment with Him.

If you’re feeling pressured, frantic, or fearful, pause before you proceed. Give yourself room to breathe. Ask, “Is this decision being driven by peace or by panic?” Small steps add up, and the first small step may simply be to slow down long enough to hear the Shepherd again.

Sometimes you’re not doing anything “wrong,” but there are real obstacles that make spiritual clarity feel out of reach. Here are three common ones I see in women who genuinely want to hear God.

First, mental clutter. If your mind is all over the place, it’s hard to discern what’s yours and what’s His. Racing thoughts, unfinished tasks, and constant decision fatigue can drown out spiritual sensitivity.

Second, emotional overload. When you’re worried about everyone else’s needs, you may miss the message you’re needing. Stress has a way of narrowing our focus and making God’s leading feel distant, even when He’s near.

Third, spiritual discouragement. If you’ve been hurt by church experiences, if you’ve been “going through the motions,” or if you’ve been in a dry season, you may start to question yourself. You might even wonder if you’re imagining things. But dryness doesn’t mean God left. It often means God is inviting deeper roots.

If you want to hear God in a noisy world, you don’t need a perfect routine. You need a sustainable rhythm. Make it doable today. Here is a simple daily framework you can practice in 10–15 minutes.

Start with stillness. Sit down, put your phone face down, and take three slow breaths. Whisper, “Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10). This posture matters because it tells your soul, “We are not in charge right now. God is.”

Then read a small portion of Scripture, not a huge assignment. Choose a Psalm, a paragraph in the Gospels, or a few verses from Proverbs. Ask one question: “What does this reveal about God?” Hearing God clearly begins with knowing God truly.

Next, respond in prayer. Don’t perform. Just tell Him what you’re carrying, what you’re afraid of, and what you’re deciding. Ask for wisdom, and then listen. Give God a minute of quiet. It may feel awkward at first. Stay anyway.

Finally, write one sentence. It might be what stood out in Scripture, a phrase you sense God highlighting, or a next right step you feel prompted to take. You’re building a record of remembrance, which helps you discern patterns of God’s leading over time.

God speaks in many ways, but He never contradicts His Word. Here are a few common channels of guidance, along with simple ways to test them.

God speaks through Scripture. This is the clearest, safest, and most dependable way He guides His people. When a verse “leaps off the page,” that matters, but keep it anchored in context. Ask, “Does this align with the character of Jesus? Does it produce humility, obedience, love, and truth?”

God speaks through wise counsel. Proverbs reminds us that there is safety in a multitude of counselors. Mature believers can help confirm what God is doing, especially when you feel uncertain or emotionally charged.

God speaks through the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. This is often described as a gentle prompting, a conviction, or a quiet certainty. It may not come with fireworks, but it comes with alignment. Again, peace is a key marker.

God can also speak through circumstances, but be careful here. Open doors are not always God-doors. Sometimes an opportunity is simply an opportunity, not an assignment. Ask for wisdom and timing, not just options.

To test what you’re hearing, try these three questions. Does it line up with Scripture? Does it produce the fruit of the Spirit over time? Does it draw me closer to Jesus and into loving obedience?

Sometimes God doesn’t reveal the whole path, because He’s building trust, not just giving information. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Notice it’s a lamp to your feet, not a floodlight for the next ten years.

If you feel stuck, ask God for the next right step, not the entire plan. The next right step might be making a phone call, setting a boundary, getting more rest, scheduling a doctor appointment, forgiving someone, simplifying your calendar, or returning to a basic devotional rhythm.

Small steps add up. God is faithful to guide you one step at a time, and obedience in the small places often unlocks clarity for the bigger places.

You don’t have to move to a cabin in the woods to hear God. But you do need to create pockets of quiet on purpose. Here are a few simple practices you can start today.

Create a “first five minutes” boundary in the morning. Before you check messages or news, whisper a simple prayer: “Jesus, lead me today.” If you can do more, wonderful. If you can only do that, it still matters.

Choose one daily “sacred pause.” This could be at lunch, in the car before you go inside, or right after dinner. Take one minute to breathe and ask, “Lord, what are You saying to me right now?”

Limit your input. If you are filling every quiet moment with TV, podcasts, or social media, your spirit rarely gets a turn to speak. You don’t have to quit everything. Just practice restraint. Make room.

Say no without guilt. Sometimes the clearest spiritual decision is the boundary. If your schedule is overfull, your soul will struggle to hear. Ask God, “What needs to be released so I can remain?”

Lord Jesus, You are the Good Shepherd. Thank You that You are not distant, not irritated with my questions, and not withholding Your guidance. Forgive me for the ways I rush, strive, and try to figure everything out on my own. Teach me to be still and to trust You. Quiet the noise around me and the noise within me. Give me a hunger for Your Word and a steady rhythm of prayer that fits my real life. Let Your peace rule in my heart like an umpire. Show me my next right step, and give me the courage to obey it. I choose to follow You one small step at a time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you’ve been feeling disconnected, spiritually dry, or unsure about your next steps, I want you to know this: you don’t have to sort it all out by yourself. Sometimes what you need isn’t more information. You need a safe, Spirit-led space to slow down, breathe, pray, and listen—with someone walking beside you.

That’s exactly what we do inside the Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour. We’ll clarify what’s noisy, name what’s heavy, and create a simple, doable rhythm so you can hear the Shepherd again and move forward with peace, not pressure. Small steps add up, and often the next right step is simply getting support.

To book your personalized coaching session → CLICK HERE