God Was Always Speaking, I Just Wasn't Listening: A Veteran's Journey from Suppression to Salvation

by Ben Duelley

Ben Duelley had it all—or so it seemed. A decorated Naval Officer, a devoted family man, and a respected leader.

But behind the uniform, the success, and the sense of duty, he was drowning.

Depression. Anxiety. Self-doubt. The weight of life pressed in.

Until a sunny day in September, the moment everything changed.

In this brutally honest memoir, Ben lays bare his deepest struggles—the unseen battles that nearly consumed him, the supernatural encounters that shattered his doubts, and the miraculous events that unfolded during a mission trip to El Salvador. Through raw storytelling and unfiltered truth, he reveals how he finally heard God’s voice, and found purpose beyond the pain.

Inside, you’ll

✔ The mental health struggles people rarely talk about—until it’s too late (Veteran Mental Health, Depression and Anxiety)
✔ How God speaks in ways we don’t expect—and why we often miss it (Hearing God’s Voice, Spiritual Warfare)
✔ The real cost of keeping it all together when you’re falling apart inside
✔ A faith-driven roadmap for anyone searching for meaning in their life, especially post-military (Military Transition Guide, Finding Purpose)

This book is

Men & women battling silent struggles—faith, mental health, and identityVeterans searching for purpose beyond the uniformAnyone desperate to know if God still performs miraclesThis isn’t just a memoir. It’s a wake-up call. A challenge to stop running, stop numbing, and start listening—because God has been speaking all along.

310 pages, Paperback

Published February 2, 2025

Reviews

[Nanette Chladny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful, inspirational, life changing story! I cried through many parts of this book. One of the things that made it so impactful for me is the fact that I know Ben’s parents, Cindy & Jeff personally. I grew up in Tatamy and am a lifelong friend of Cindy. During the summers, we played together, riding bikes all over the streets of Tatamy and swimming in her family’s pool. I knew Cindy’s parents, Betty & Stu…. Wonderfully kind people who always welcomed me into their home! Cindy and Jeff graduated a year before me from the same high school! And I’m still in touch with them, exchanging Christmas cards each year where we “ catch up” on our families and events. We text a few times also; I’ve seen pictures of Ben and his family even though I’ve never met them !
BUT….. I never knew what Ben was going through in the difficulties of his life. To read about his struggles and how he came to know God, and our Lord & savior, Jesus Christ, is nothing short of a miracle. I am also a devout Christian and I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit guiding us in everything we do. To read of the wonderful conversion that Ben experienced is so heartwarming!
If my review guides someone else to pick up this book, then the Spirit has stirred in them too. READ this beautiful story!!!

[Krissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

God Was Always Speaking, I Just Wasn't Listening: A Veteran's Journey from Suppression to Salvation was a quick and easy read. Ben Duelley writes like you are friends and sitting next to him in comfy chairs, maybe drinking coffee, and he is telling you his story. Every time you think you know what is coming next, I am guessing you don't get it right, or not the extent of what happened next. You don't have to be a veteran or a Christian to appreciate the journey Ben was on. I can imagine his story helping many people who have struggles, hit some bumps in the road, or are just looking for some direction. You may not think you need his story in your life, but you may know someone else who does, and that is what and why Ben is sharing. It is also why I am sharing, because if this review gets his book in someone's hands who it helps, then the few minutes I took to type it up was more than worth it.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story. Raw, personal, touching and relatable.