014 God Speaks: Hinderences to Hearing God part 1

Hindrances to Hearing God’s Voice

I believe God is always speaking. The challenge isn’t that He’s silent—it’s often that we’re not engaged in listening. Many of us wonder, Why doesn’t God speak to me? The truth is, He does, but our lives are filled with distractions that hinder our ability to hear Him.

One of the clearest examples of this comes from everyday life—perhaps you’ve witnessed it. Picture this: it’s Sunday afternoon, and a wife is trying to talk to her husband while he’s glued to the television, engrossed in a football game. She’s sharing something important, maybe even looking directly at him, but his eyes are only half-glancing in her direction. His ears are technically functioning, but his mind is elsewhere—focused on a group of men chasing a ball, colliding on a field, and fighting for every yard.

The wife might walk away feeling unheard, even though she spoke clearly. Her husband may not even realize how much of the conversation he missed. This humorous but all-too-real scenario mirrors how we often approach God. He’s speaking, trying to connect with us, but we’re distracted. Our hearts and minds are tuned into other things.

The Distractions That Block God’s Voice

In our noisy, fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in distractions. Whether it’s a pair of headphones, the constant ping of notifications, or the allure of entertainment, our attention is often fragmented. We might say we want to hear from God, but our actions tell a different story. We keep ourselves so busy that we don’t create space for His voice.

Sometimes, I catch myself doing the same thing in conversations with my wife. We’ll be out at a restaurant, and while she’s talking, my mind might wander to the score of a game or something on my to-do list. I’m physically present, but mentally, I’m elsewhere. It’s not that I don’t value her words—I do—but distractions rob me of the chance to truly connect. And if that’s how I can be with my wife, how much more do I struggle to truly listen to God?

God Desires Communion With Us

One of the greatest truths of the Christian faith is that God longs to speak to us. From Genesis to Revelation, we see a God who is deeply relational—walking with Adam and Eve in the garden, speaking to Moses through the burning bush, and ultimately sending His Son, Jesus, to dwell among us. Even today, through the Holy Spirit, God desires to communicate with us.

But just like any relationship, hearing God requires intentionality. It’s not enough to say, I want to hear God’s voice. We must create moments of stillness and tune our hearts to His frequency. Imagine how much more we could hear if we turned down the noise of our lives and prioritized time with Him.

Reflecting on Hindrances

There are many obstacles that keep us from hearing God clearly. Distractions are just one of them. Other hindrances might include:

Unconfessed Sin: Sin can cloud our spiritual ears, making it harder to discern God’s voice.

Unbelief or Doubt: If we don’t believe God is speaking, we’re less likely to recognize when He does.

Busyness: A packed schedule often leaves little room for prayer or reflection.

Fear of What He Might Say: Sometimes, we avoid listening because we’re afraid God will ask us to do something challenging.

Each of these barriers can be overcome, but it starts with recognizing their presence.

Practical Steps to Hear God Better

If you find yourself struggling to hear God’s voice, here are a few steps to help:

Set Aside Quiet Time: Dedicate intentional moments each day to prayer, Scripture, and reflection.

Eliminate Distractions: Turn off your phone, step away from the TV, and create a quiet environment.

Ask God to Speak: Invite Him into the moment with a prayer like, Lord, I want to hear Your voice. Help me to listen.

Practice Active Listening: Instead of rushing to speak in prayer, spend time simply being still and waiting.

Stay in God’s Word: The Bible is God’s primary way of speaking to us. Immerse yourself in Scripture, and you’ll begin to recognize His voice more clearly.

Hearing God isn’t about trying harder; it’s about creating space for Him to speak and quieting the noise around us. Like the husband who learns to set down the remote and truly listen to his wife, we must train ourselves to be fully present with God.

The question isn’t whether God is speaking. The question is: Are we listening? Let’s tackle the hindrances together and move closer to the relationship He desires to have with us.