Sometimes God Has Already Spoken To You
Is God Giving Me An Answer I’m Missing?
It might be that God has spoken…and you’re not receiving it.
I recently had a coaching client who was seeking clarity and God’s guidance on something she’d been praying about for a long time. She was sure that she was still waiting on the Lord to answer in His timing. But as we talked, it became clear. God had already spoken to her.
One thing I absolutely adore about Spiritual Discernment sessions is how in-depth we go. As I listen, I can often hear something beneath the words— clues and discoveries beneath the surface. That’s what happened in this case.
In coaching, we usually have to dig a bit to get to the whole truth. That’s not to say clients are hiding the truth or lying to me or themselves. I have wonderful, open clients who genuinely seek wisdom and God’s best direction.
But… all of us are a little blind.
Remember, we’re people, after all. And we don’t have things figured out yet. (That’s okay!)
We operate in the reality of what we see and experience. We function in the comfort of what we understand— this includes what we tell ourselves, what others tell us, what the world tells us, and what our circumstances tell us.
That’s a lot of chatter!
All of that noise can keep us from recognizing that God has spoken already.
That’s what happened in this coaching session. After several direct questions, a bit of scripture, and some insight from the Lord, we discerned that the Lord had already answered her. What a surprise!
It Can Be Easy To Miss When God Has Spoken
I miss God’s voice plenty of times. And I usually miss it because I’m too emotionally tied or I’m not ready to face it.
Not long ago, I’d been praying about something for a while and didn’t have clarity. But really, I didn’t want the answer. I had a feeling it was going to be something challenging and I was more comfortable staying in the uncertain than dealing with the answer.
So, I kept pushing off directly asking God and kept praying about my feelings and thoughts instead. I didn’t say, “Lord, please tell me.”
Once I finally asked, I got His response.
I’ve had about a zillion other times where God has spoken, and I’ve said, “No thanks, I’d like to keep shopping for another answer. Refresh, please!”
Or I’ve been certain, fixated, or held on to something so tightly that I was unwilling to surrender to hear anything but my own desires.
Our humanness can keep us from hearing God’s voice clearly sometimes— uh, lots of times!
I think it’s important not to be hard on ourselves when this happens.
God knows what we’re like, and He’ll always help us find our way back to Him…even if we’ve been stubborn or have put other things ahead of Him.
He’ll always, always be available to reconcile with you and set you straight.
When you do realize you’ve gotten in your own way or you’ve missed His voice, go to Him. Say, “God, I’m sorry about that. Help me let go and listen for YOU and Your way.” And He, your loving and dependable Father, will get you back on track.
Once you’ve laid down your own sight, thoughts, and will, ask Him to make His voice very clear to you.
He can speak to you through the Scripture, through a sense of peace, a feeling of “knowing” from the Holy Spirit, an open or closed door, and through talking things out (check out my one-to-one coaching sessions when you need a partner).
Sometimes You’ll Miss His Voice Because Of Your Own Stuff…And That’s Okay
When you do…(not if, but when)…
Check in with yourself. What are you holding on to? What could be clouding your vision or blocking your hearing? Is there anything interrupting the flow of His spirit to your heart?
Be on the lookout for inevitable human error.
Stay open to the possibility that He’s already spoken, and that your “receiver” may be “off.” And deal with it with love and self-compassion.
Want a little help?
I’ve got a free guide to help you recognize the character and feelings that come with God’s voice.
Grab your free copy of
“Hey God, Is That You?”
A guide to help you discern God’s voice.
