What are You Listening FOR?

“Hear that?”

“Um … no.”

“Do you hear it now?”

“Yeah … actually, no. Still no. Quick question: What exactly am I listening for?”

This is a common conversation between my son Drew and me. I don’t hear what he hears in music. He’s an excellent guitarist and musician who has trained his ear to listen for things musically that I don’t really notice at all—tweaks and changes to guitar effects, amps, recordings, EQs, speaker placements, and many other details that I remain fairly ignorant about. Even when I think I hear something, it has taken practice to be sure I’m hearing what he’s trying to point out. It’s like an entirely different language—one I am genuinely interested in learning, but I can’t speak fluently. I was a singer and pianist, so I tend to notice vocal harmonies, pitch, and wrong notes. Beyond that, I need help to fully appreciate the technical aspects of making music. My son has helped me grow by patiently explaining specifically what to listen for. I’ve had to slow down, focus on the music, and allow my ear to become more attuned to what he has described. Over time, I’ve learned to notice more on my own, but I am still learning how to listen differently.

As believers, many of us diligently listen for God’s guidance, teaching, direction, principles, guidelines, and so on. We may have come to believe these things are what He most wants to talk with us about. But have you ever sought to listen for God’s delight, joy, humor, playfulness, empathy, care, attentiveness, fun, praise, goodwill, quietness, or patient presence? What if He is most interested in sharing His love, comfort, and encouragement with you? Have you leaned in to notice His contentedness to just be with you?

When we listen for God’s voice, we need to pay attention to what we expect God will say.

We may grow more confident in our belief that He wants us to draw near, but what do we assume He wants to say when we come close? We all have an unconscious, internal censor actively at work, examining thoughts and messages at lightning speed to identify what “is” or “isn’t God” and quickly dismissing what doesn’t align with what we expect. Maybe you think you notice Him whispering words of blessing, encouragement, or comfort but your internal censor quickly rebuts, “That’s not God—that’s just you. That’s just what you wish He would say.” Frustrated, you listen “harder,” but you keep hearing the same thing! Exasperated because you “can’t hear God,” you give up.

If this resonates with you—if you quickly dismiss affirming, encouraging, comforting whispers and thoughts as “not God”—you are definitely not alone! Many people have been deeply conditioned in the belief that we can only really trust that we’re hearing God if the message is instructive or corrective.

Just as we may learn to attune our ears to recognize certain sounds and dynamics of music, we also learn to attune our ears to the many ways God speaks and the messages He shares. The diversity displayed in creation shows us that God doesn’t reveal Himself in only one manner. He is creative, diverse, and multi-faceted—His wisdom and work are vast and “unsearchable” (Romans 11:33; Psalm 104:24)! God’s voice is not monotone and repetitive; He is expressive, speaking in a variety of ways with a variety of messages. Noticing God in some ways but not recognizing His voice in others is normal. It means you’re a human being! It isn’t a matter of doing it “right” or “wrong.” Listening for God’s heart for us requires quiet, focused attention and, often, the help of another believer whose ear has been attuned to God’s voice in areas that we are still learning to notice.

It will take time, affirmation, trust, and vulnerability to relax into being extravagantly loved, wanted, and doted on by God Himself. That is what our hearts are most hungry for and exactly what He invites us to notice. The God who guides and instructs is first and foremost the God that loves you extravagantly, singing and dancing over you today: “The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17, CSB).

If it seems to you that God only speaks words of instruction, guidance, and correction, be assured that there is much more He wants to share with you! His greatest joy is to lavish His love upon His children and enjoy their company. Invite Him to attune your ear to the melodies of His love.

Excerpted from “Listening for God,” a seven-day journey about noticing God’s whispers in our everyday lives, which you can download for free when you subscribe to Wholehearted Pursuits!

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