Last week, we talked about how the enemy will try and disrupt your focus. How he’ll sneak in with lies and familiar old thought patterns to get you to focus on those instead of Jesus. (If you missed it, check out part one, or part two!)

Why can’t you hear from God? I’ve said it once, I’ve said it twice, I’ll say it three times.

In my experience, it isn’t God that’s the problem. Sometimes, we’re just really bad at listening.

Hearing From God

Let me give you an example.

A few years ago, way before I moved to Ohio and before I started this blog, I was a youth leader. I was in charge of all the middle-school girls in my church, which usually meant I had a gaggle of around fifteen twelve-year-olds following me around every Sunday night. I loved it so much. We goofed off, joked around, and even better, I felt like I was able to really talk to them about Jesus.

Before I’d become a youth leader, I was lost in what God wanted me to do. But as I showed up, week after week, took the girls on one-on-one trips to ice cream or texted encouragement through the week, it became clear to me that whatever I decided to do, I wanted to help the next generation.

One day, about a year and a half into my time as a youth leader, I decided to look into becoming a youth pastor. I wanted to do this full-time. But before I made a life-changing decision like that, I knew I needed to pray.

I sat down alone in my room, with my bible open, and held out my palms. I asked God for guidance, and immediately, I had a strong image in my mind. In my outstretched hands were two glass orbs, one that said “writing” and one that said “youth leader“. Both orbs were rapidly expanding, and I knew, instinctively, that I wouldn’t be able to hold both.

“Choose,” I heard the Lord whisper. “Whatever you choose, I’ll be with you.”

I couldn’t give up writing. Ever.

I dropped the other orb, and in that moment, I made a decision.

“Okay, yeah, that’s super great, Alli,” you’re probably saying. “But I haven’t heard from God about this thing like you have. If I did, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

I’m getting to that. Because, ladies and gentlemen, there’s this little thing called doubt. Which leads me to reason #3.

Reason #3: He already has—we just forgot.

I quit youth group a month later and decided to pursue writing full-time… And nothing worked. Seriously. As I explored the different paths from Indie to Traditional publishing, I realized it would probably take me about ten years to learn everything I needed to know on my own. No worries, I thought, God has this. I’ll just keep going.

So keep going I did. Even when I had to suddenly move out of my childhood home, even when a short story of mine was accepted for publication and then basically completely rewritten by the editor. Even when I suddenly started losing my health, even when I was let go from all three of my jobs, even when my grandpa passed away. Nothing seemed to be working, and no matter how hard I tried to keep going, the doubt crept in.

Did I just imagine that vision? Was it really God? What if it was the enemy distracting me from what God actually wanted? Maybe I didn’t hear him at all.

Worst of all? After a few months, I just straight up forgot about what God had promised.

Maybe being a writer wasn’t something God had chosen for me, but something I had decided for myself. Maybe I should ask again.

So I prayed again…and I heard nothing. It was completely and totally silent.

I prayed, and I prayed, and I asked friends to pray for discernment, and still nothing. I got so, so confused after that. Then, I wondered if I had any sort of relationship with God at all or if it was all imagined.

Clearly, I came around and God reminded me of his promise…eventually. But there was a long season where anytime I asked specifically about my career or what God wanted me to be doing, it was just…silent. I had let doubt creep in and had forgotten what He had told me.

Sometimes, God is silent because he’s already answered us. His answer isn’t always as clear as a vision, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t answered you. Sometimes he answers us in an instinctual knowing in our hearts, or a whisper in our heads. Sometimes it’s through confirmation from others, or best yet, reading His Word.

Be still, and know He is God.

Know that he loves you—adores you. He does not want confusion or turmoil for you. That is God’s character. So pay attention when He speaks, and remember what He says. Write it down in a journal and be a good steward of his voice!

His words are precious, his voice sweet like honey…so write it down somewhere for when the doubt comes (because the enemy loves doubt) so that you can call to remembrance his promises and keep going. Keep fighting. Keep striving toward Jesus.

Have you ever forgotten a promise from God? How did he remind you? Drop a comment below!

A great way to remember his promise is by having that promise as your phone background! Check out these free backgrounds I have for you!

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The post Why Can’t I Hear from God? Part Three appeared first on Alli Prince.