“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” -John 10:27
How I Learned to Hear God’s Voice
Recently, I’ve been trying to use social media more intentionally. My rule right now is this: I can be on Instagram until I hit a video that testifies of God’s timeless truth or love. And if I’m being honest with you, that usually happens within the first 1 to 5 videos.
I don’t say that to brag—I say it because I’m not exactly up on viral trends unless they fall into my lap.
One of those videos recently did, and it wrecked me in the best way.
It showed a pasture full of sheep. Different visitors were invited to call to the sheep using the same words the shepherd usually used. But the sheep didn’t even lift their heads.
Then the shepherd stepped forward and called out.
Immediately, the sheep looked up—and then ran to him.
I sat there and wept. And honestly… I feel a little embarrassed to admit that.
Why did I weep?
Because I recognized the lesson Jesus taught so faithfully:
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” —John 10:27
The sheep didn’t follow the voice of strangers. They followed their shepherd.
Real followers of Jesus—His sheep—respond quickly because they know His voice.
It’s beautiful. It’s humbling. And it stirred something deep in me.
Learning to Hear God
Last week, after studying scripture, I felt God prompting me to write this blog post: How do I hear and recognize God’s voice?
Here’s the honest truth—I haven’t always been good at it.
Growing up, I’d ask church leaders how to hear God, and I was told things like, “It takes a lifetime to recognize His voice.” or “Just go with what feels right.”
I don’t blame them—they were doing their best. But over time I realized that their teaching left out the most important part:
God’s voice is not vague or hidden. He wants to be known. And He has spoken—in His Word.
In the church I grew up in, Bible reading was seen more as a tool for self-improvement than a way to know God intimately. It was a checklist, not a conversation. It was about what I could get out of it, not who God is.
Rediscovering the Word
So this year, when my sister invited me to read the entire Bible in a year, I said yes.
Not because I wanted more head knowledge. But because I wanted truth.
Around that same time, I came across something Tara-Leigh Cobble wrote:
“Don’t read the Bible to see what it says about you. Read it to see what it says about God.”
That one sentence changed how I approached scripture.
What Happened Next
When I stopped reading the Bible for what I could get, and started reading to know God’s character… something shifted.
I stopped trying to find myself in every verse.
I started to find God.
And when I did—I began to hear His voice.
Not audibly. Not theatrically. But clearly. Quietly. Consistently.
So how do I know it’s God’s voice?
Here are 3 ways I’ve learned to recognize it:
God’s voice always carries peace, love, and truth—even when it corrects. There is no shame in it. No harshness. Just a holy steadiness that pulls you closer.
God’s voice always aligns with His Word. Many times, the things I’ve heard in prayer—later, I found them word for word in scriptures I hadn’t even read yet.
God’s voice bears fruit. When I obey, I don’t just feel inspired—I’m transformed. I see humility, healing, and holiness grow in me that wasn’t there before.
Friend, if you’ve wondered whether God still speaks, I promise you: He does. And the best way to begin recognizing His voice is to open His Word.
Don’t settle for curated devotionals. Don’t wait for an Instagram reel. Go to the source. He’s waiting there.
“The sheep listen to the voice of the Shepherd…” —and they will know Him by it.
So how do you hear the voice of God?
I wish I could promise it’s a 3-minute fix. And in some ways… it is.
Because God will meet you right where you are.
But if you truly want to hear His voice—and recognize it clearly—open your Bible.
The Bible isn’t a rulebook. It’s a love letter. And when you open it, He will speak. You’ll hear Him. Because He loves you.
