I have always wanted God to make things obvious. As long as I can remember, this longing for God to give me the black-and-white sign telling me which way to go has been constant. And if it had bells and whistles on it, all the better.
When my husband and I first got married, we had a saying for these moments when God’s leading was unmistakable. We called them two-by-fours to the head. Now, I realize that description doesn’t sound very pleasant, but if you’ve had one of those moments, you know. You’re living life, praying for God’s leading in a specific area, and have probably even missed a few of his nudges. Then, a series of events or conversations makes his leading so unmistakable, you would have to be completely oblivious to miss it.
A few months into our marriage, my husband and I experienced one of these two-by-four moments.
My husband was looking for a new job, but nothing was available anywhere near our home in South Carolina. Then a call came about a position in Utah—more than 2,000 miles away from the little town where I had lived my whole life.
I had never been to Utah. I knew nothing about this state that was over two thousand miles away from home. And honestly, I was scared.
What about my job? What if I couldn’t find another one? Could we survive on one income?
I shared my fears with my boss, and within an hour, I had an interview lined up for the exact same position at a location in Salt Lake. While I still had questions, God’s leading was unmistakable. Looking back, I can see His kindness in that moment.
But eighteen years into marriage, I’ve learned something I didn’t expect: those two-by-four moments don’t happen as often as I’d like. More often, God’s guidance feels like a gentle nudge.
A thought that lingers. A desire that won’t go away. A quiet prompting during a prayer walk with my dog.
Sometimes it feels like fumbling through the dark, asking, God, is this You? Am I hearing You correctly? And I’ve had to learn that when God doesn’t give me a flashing sign, it doesn’t mean He is withholding from me. Sometimes He is teaching me to trust Him.
Here are three things He’s revealed to me as I learn to do that, day by day.
1. God wants you to know His voice.
For years, I wondered what it really meant to hear from God. I’d grown up hearing the stories of Moses and the burning bush, and knew how God spoke to prophets. But I don’t remember learning much about what it looked like to recognize His voice in the ordinary moments of my life.
If I’m honest, part of me didn’t even feel safe bringing my desires to God. Then I had children.
I watched my kids come to me with their hopes and dreams without hesitation. My daughter was four when she decided she wanted to be a frog. She told me this one night while I was making dinner, completely unashamed and entirely convinced that this was something I needed to know. She felt safe with me.
And as I watched my children, something began to shift in my understanding of God.
Slowly, I realized He wanted that kind of openness with me, too. He wanted me to bring Him my hopes, my fears, my questions, my disappointments, and even the desires I wasn’t sure I should have.
Jesus says in John 10 that His sheep hear His voice and know Him. Know Him. Not just know about Him. That distinction has changed so much for me.
Because hearing God isn’t ultimately about mastering a formula. It’s about relationship with a Shepherd who knows His sheep and stays with them.
2. God is asking us to trust His character more than answers.
If I’m honest, I think that if God would just tell me what’s on the other side of my step of faith, things would be easier. I’ll have more confidence, and I’ll do it. But that’s not really what faith is, is it? Hebrews 11 tells us faith is the “assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
We believe that more information will give us more freedom and peace, but most of the time, it does the opposite. The information age we live in is a good example of this. We’ve never had access to more information at our fingertips, and yet we’re also more prone to anxiety and depression than ever before.
A finite mind and body cannot carry the weight of an infinite God. God is outside of time, but we aren’t. When we run ahead of God and try to acquire more knowledge, we take on a yoke we were never intended to carry. We forfeit the peace God gives us today for the worries of the future.
Jesus offers a different invitation in Matthew 11. Come to me, He says, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
He doesn’t say, “Come to me, and I’ll explain everything.” He says, “Come to me.”
3. Faith grows when we take the next step.
There is something beautiful that happens when we respond to God’s quiet nudges. They create a track record. We can look back and see the moments when we moved forward even in the unknown, and God was faithful.
In the Old Testament, people made altars to remember these moments. This should tell us something. We’re forgetful people, right? So, let’s record them too, and look back on them when we need reassurance of God’s presence.
Another thing these steps of faith do is create momentum. Momentum is gained by movement, and the same is true with our faith. If we look at names for the Holy Spirit in Scripture, none of them are stagnant. He’s described as wind, fire, and water. His presence thrives as we move with him.
Friend, God does give us a guarantee. Ephesians 1 tells us that those who belong to Christ have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. Our security isn’t found in getting every decision right or knowing exactly what comes next. Our security is found in Christ.
So perhaps today, instead of asking, “God, will You please show me everything?” we can pray something simpler:
“God, help me trust You with what I cannot see.”
Then listen. Take the next faithful step. And trust that the Shepherd who led you here will not abandon you along the way.
An Invitation:
The enemy distracted me from my purpose for years by telling me one lie over and over. He made me question not only God’s voice, but my ability to hear Him. When I realized I was falling for this deception, I studied God’s Word and found that it is not uncommon. I’d love to share what I’ve learned with you.
My new book, Surrendering Certainty, will show you:
- How to confidently discern God’s voice without constant second-guessing.
- Why decision-making is a spiritual act that strengthens faith.
- Biblical truths about letting go of control and trusting God’s promises for today.
If you’re looking for a clear, practical approach to hearing God’s voice and guidance to overcome fear so you can trust Him fully, this book is for you.
Here’s what one reader said after reading it:
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-Bethany
If you’re looking for a clear, practical approach to hearing God’s voice and guidance to overcome fear so you can trust Him fully, this book is for you.
*This post contains affiliate links. You can read my affiliate disclosure here.
