When God Whispers: Leaning In to Hear His Voice

This week, I found myself sitting in awe—and honestly, in a little bit of confusion—about a truth God revealed to me. It feels counterintuitive at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized how beautiful it really is.

When God wants to be heard, when He has something too important for us to miss, He doesn’t shout. He whispers.

Growing up, when I felt unheard—especially at loud family dinners—I didn’t whisper. I shouted. I raised my voice, made noise, did whatever I could to grab attention. It seemed like the louder I spoke, the more likely I was to be heard.

But God doesn’t operate like that. Yes, He can shout. We see it throughout the Bible: thunder on Mount Sinai, the parting of the Red Sea, fire from heaven, even the raising of Lazarus when Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43).

Yet when God truly wants to capture our attention, He chooses to whisper.

The dictionary definition of a whisper is “speaking very softly, using breath without one’s vocal cords.” That’s when it hit me: God’s breath is not new to me.

In Genesis, God whispered life into creation. He breathed into Adam’s nostrils, and Adam came to life (Genesis 2:7). Think about that. The breath of God gave us life. His whisper is the very thing that sustains us.

It’s humbling to realize that you and I were once a whisper—God’s whisper. We were intentionally formed, spoken into existence by the Creator of the universe. And now, He still whispers to us, calling us back to Him.

The intimacy of God’s whisper became so clear to me this week. In order to hear someone whisper, what do you have to do? You have to lean in. You have to get close.

God knows this. He could shout if He wanted to, but instead, He whispers. Why? Because He desires closeness. He wants us to lean in—to draw near to Him. He wants us to build intimacy with Him, to be so close that His gentle whisper becomes clear and unmistakable.

Learning to hear God’s whisper, His voice of life, gives us the potential to live out the purpose He has planned for us. When we quiet ourselves and tune in to His voice, we discover the unique message He wants to speak through our lives.

In 1 Samuel 3, we see this so clearly. Samuel didn’t know how to recognize the Lord’s voice at first. God called to him three times, and each time Samuel thought it was Eli speaking. But once Samuel learned to hear and know the Lord’s voice, everything changed. From that moment on, Samuel carried out God’s plan for his life and his future.

God can do the same for you and me. But it all begins with learning to listen for His whisper.

When was the last time you truly heard God’s voice? Not just a passing thought or feeling, but His still, small voice speaking truth to your heart?

• What did He say or ask of you?

• What was your response?

• Are you actively inviting Him to speak to you?

These are hard questions I’ve been wrestling with, because sometimes, I don’t want to hear everything God has to say. If I’m honest, I can tune Him out when He convicts me of things I don’t want to address.

But here’s what I’m learning:

If I’m unwilling to listen to everything God has to say, I will eventually hear nothing He has to say.

We can’t ignore God’s convicting voice and still expect to hear His comforting voice. Often, the things we want to hear least are the very things we need to hear most.

So, what is God whispering to you today?

Maybe it’s a call to let go of something you’ve been clinging to. Maybe it’s an invitation to trust Him more deeply. Maybe He’s gently convicting you of something you need to surrender, or maybe He’s whispering a word of encouragement that you so desperately need to hear.

Whatever it is, don’t miss it. Lean in. Draw close. God doesn’t waste His whispers. When He speaks, it’s because He has something too important for you to miss.

“Lord, teach me to hear Your whisper. I know You don’t shout for my attention; instead, You invite me to draw near to You. Help me to lean in, to quiet my heart, and to truly listen. Convict me where I need to be convicted, comfort me where I need to be comforted, and guide me where I need to follow. I don’t want to miss Your voice. You are my breath, my life, and my God. Amen.”

God’s whispers are powerful. They are intimate, intentional, and life-giving. The question is: Are you listening? Lean in. He’s waiting to be heard.