Learning to listen; through trial and error

God Desires Relationship—with You and Me

In previous editions, we’ve explored God’s longing for a relationship with us and the vital role that communication plays in that connection. As human beings, we consist of spirit, soul, and body. The moment we come to faith, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. The Bible calls this being “born again” a spiritual birth. Our spirit comes alive through the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us.

Because He lives within us, it’s possible to hear His voice. Yet sometimes, we can believe in God for many years and never realize we've heard Him speak.

“My Sheep Hear My Voice”

The Bible says in John 10:27:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (NKJV)

Whether we recognize it or not we can trust that we’ve already been hearing His voice. In this passage, the sheep represent those who believe in Him.

Now that Jesus is no longer physically here on earth, we can still hear His voice through the Holy Spirit. Jesus promises this in John 14:16:

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever…” (NKJV)

Spiritual Communication

Other articles in this magazine explore how to learn to hear God’s voice. Briefly put God doesn’t usually speak through an audible voice, but rather through a gentle, inner prompting. His Holy Spirit lives within us and communicates with our spirit. So the “language” of the Holy Spirit isn’t Dutch or English it’s spiritual, between His Spirit and ours. Often, it’s not something you hear with physical ears.

“His Holy Spirit lives within us and communicates with our spirit.”

A vital source for learning to hear and recognize God's voice is the Bible. Scripture offers guidance, courage, and hope, helping us pursue the purpose God intends for us.

Ask, Seek, Knock

Luke 11:9–13 tells us:

“So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? …If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (NKJV)

A Good Father

Luke 11 reminds us that God is a good Father—and He leads us, not misleads us. Even when learning to hear His voice, we can trust that He’ll guide us well. He is our Father, and we are His children.

“Even when learning to hear His voice, we can trust that He will guide us.”

But this requires our participation: by praying, knocking, seeking—and then listening. We’re not meant to be passive.

Don’t Be Afraid to Fail

We also don’t need to fear making mistakes. Our Father is kind and willing to help. Think of how we learn and grow as people when a child learns to walk, parents celebrate every attempt, even if they fall. That first step is cherished the fall is not punished.

“Falling isn’t necessarily failing.”

Each of us learns through trial and error. We get up and try again. God designed us to enter the world as completely dependent infants with built-in potential to grow. But that growth happens slowly step by step.

Spiritual Growth Takes Time

The same goes for spiritual life. No one becomes spiritually mature overnight. Growth happens gradually, and continues throughout our entire life. There is always room to become more like Jesus and to hear His voice more clearly. And we are not alone in this: the Holy Spirit is our Helper. He wants to be actively involved in our growth.

So ask Him. Expect Him. And listen.