Hearing the Voice: Learning to Listen in a Noisy World
John 10:27 – “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Have you ever stopped to think about how many voices fill your world each day? Notifications buzz. Adverts flash. Messages flood our minds from every direction. It's estimated that we check our phones between 60 to 80 times daily, and see hundreds of advertisements across digital and physical platforms. No wonder it’s hard to focus!
But beyond the external noise, there are internal voices too:
The voice of past memories—some beautiful, some painful.
The voice of people who’ve blessed us—or broken us.
The voice of long-held beliefs and deep-rooted thoughts.
And the voice of our own expectations and fears.
With so much vying for our attention, how do we tune in to the voice that truly matters?
God Still Speaks
In the middle of all this noise, Scripture tells us something extraordinary: God speaks. Romans 8:16 reminds us, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Through the Holy Spirit and His Word, God speaks identity, comfort, and direction into the very fabric of our hearts.
When we look at the life of Jesus, we see three powerful moments where the Father’s voice broke through—each one giving us a model of what we too need to hear.
Voice 1: You Belong. You Are Loved.
📖 Mark 1:11 – “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Before Jesus had done any miracles or public ministry, the Father affirmed Him. He didn’t need to prove Himself—He was already loved.
As followers of Christ, the same is true for us. Romans 8:15-17 says we’ve received the Spirit of adoption. We are no longer orphans, forever trying to earn approval or fearing rejection. We belong.
This voice of approval isn’t based on our performance—it’s based on what Christ has already done. At His baptism, the heavens were torn open as the Spirit descended. And at the cross, the temple curtain was torn in two, giving us access to God. That’s grace. That’s assurance. That’s the voice you need to hear today.
Voice 2: Listen. Obey.
📖 Mark 9:7 – “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
This moment came right after Jesus taught about the cost of true discipleship—denying yourself, taking up your cross, and following Him (Mark 8:34-38). Then came the transfiguration: glory, light, amazement.
But God’s message wasn’t “admire him”—it was “listen to him.” Obedience matters more than admiration.
Obedience is never theoretical. In Scripture, obedience always involves movement:
Abraham obeyed and went… (Hebrews 11:8)
Jonah obeyed and went… (Jonah 3:3)
Rehoboam’s men obeyed and returned home… (1 Kings 12:24)
Maybe it’s time for your own “obeyed and went” moment. A step. A shift. A call to act.
Voice 3: Go Deeper—Even When It’s Hard
📖 John 12:27-28 – “Now my soul is troubled… Father, glorify your name!”
Jesus faced His darkest hour and knew the cross lay ahead. But He didn’t shrink back. The voice from heaven came once more—not to save Him from pain, but to say “I have glorified [my name], and will glorify it again.”
Sometimes God calls us to walk a difficult road—not because He’s cruel, but because He’s working glory through us. The crowd didn’t understand. You might not be understood either. But God’s voice still calls: Go deeper. Trust me. Keep going.
Hebrews 6:1 urges us to “move beyond the elementary teachings… and go on to maturity.” Are you ready?
Which Voice Do You Need Today?
Do you need to hear God say: You are my child. You belong.
Do you need to respond with obedience—a step forward, an action taken?
Or do you sense God calling you to go deeper, even though it’s tough?
Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Listen – because listening leads to knowing.
Know – because knowing leads to trust.
Follow – because trust leads to action.
Pause today. Lean in. The Shepherd is still speaking.
Are you listening?
