In the past, if you had looked at my life from the outside, it might have looked peaceful. I had no social life (even now). Home’s where I truly thrive, punctuated only by sporadic solo trips here and there. But, mind you, my inner world was nothing but quiet. Back then, my thoughts were scattered in every direction. The ever-looming deadline. Hobbies to pursue. Courses to finish. Personal responsibilities to manage. The list goes on. I must say, it stretches further than my patience.
At one point, I felt like I was treading so many paths in my career, as evidenced by the number of online courses I took, not to mention incurring business losses. It came down to putting my money in the wrong spots.
I’ve realized God must have allowed me to make mistakes one after the other to teach me a lesson: To listen to Him alone, because by doing so, everything will fall into place. Had I listened to Him, I would have spared myself from unnecessary stumbles and heartaches.
Yes, I prayed for the grace to be a good provider for my aging parents. But did I trust that He would hear and fulfill this prayer? I don’t think I did. My actions then were louder than my words. Out of fear of financial ruin, I tried a variety of online courses, jobs, and investments. The dread of being unable to provide was stronger than my faith.
But finally, I got it. It’s funny how I, as a Christian, am pretty familiar with bible verses, and yet failed to apply them when out in the real world. Don’t we have this instinct—this quiet little nudge in our gut that tells us when something doesn’t feel right? According to one of the pastors I listened to, it’s God telling us to change direction.
But shiny objects are everywhere, insisting that we must take action or risk losing the opportunity.
So I learned my lesson the hard way—and these Bible verses about how crucial it is to listen to God and enter His rest finally hit home.
“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NKJV
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 NKJV
“He said to them, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 NIV
This last verse reminds me of that time when I took that 30-minute boat ride on the Sea of Galilee more than a decade ago. Cruising the same waters Jesus and His apostles sailed, everyone in that ancient-looking boat fell silent as we witnessed the sun go down behind those tranquil, rolling hills surrounding the river(It’s called the Sea of Galilee, but it’s technically a river).
That very moment, all the cares in the world were dissolved by the simplicity of what I was witnessing. Nothing truly matters in this world but our intimacy with God. I now always go back to that poignant memory, that stillness and lingering calm whenever anxious thoughts threaten to disrupt my peace.
My Lord’s presence is enough. I don’t need anything more.
True enough, the world we live in can drown God’s voice, preventing us from hearing God's much-needed guidance. Here are some helpful insights that helped me hear God’s still small voice amid my worries.
How to Hear God in a Noisy World
1. Can You Be Still… Even for Just a Few Minutes?
It’s hard to remain calm when we’re swamped with trials and hurdles. This may be quite a challenge if we’re wired to get anxious whenever we run into rough patches. In such a case, take a deep breath, retreat to a quiet place where you can be alone with God even for a few minutes. Being in God’s presence can still your heart.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 NKJV
And while it is true that it is in the stillness of the heart that we can hear God speak, there are also times when He says even when we’re in the midst of the constant rush, when our brain turns into a jumble of to-dos, or when it’s crowded with worries. I should know. I experienced it firsthand.
I could recall the time when I planned to fast one particular day. Initially, I should have started my fast early in the morning, but I ended up feeling the urge to clean and organize the house before I began. So, I ended up not following the schedule and did my fast quite late, much to my dismay.
And the whole time I was cleaning and organizing the house, this verse from Scripture, “Martha, Martha,” kept circling in my mind. It was persistent and unrelenting. But it did not make me pause from everything I was caught up in.
And when the time came for my fast, I could not recall whether I began it with a prayer or Bible reading. Anyway, what lingered in my memory was the incredible thing that happened as soon as I opened the Scripture. The verse “Martha, Martha” came into view. Precisely that line, nothing more, nothing less. It’s too inconceivable to chalk it up to mere coincidence. I didn’t even have a moment to skim through the pages–it flickered into view right then and there, precisely the moment I opened the Bible.
This experience only proves how gracious our God is. Even when we’re not still, disobedient, and stubborn, He is still more than willing to meet us where we are.
“Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
“For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14 NKJV
2. Sit With the Scriptures
God’s Word is a balm to our weary souls. When I am filled with dread and hopelessness, His Word not only soothes my fears but also gives me a sense of direction, allowing me to gain better insights and think clearly about how to resolve the issues at hand.
We know that God speaks in many different ways, and one of the ways He gets His message across is through the Bible. So take time to read His Word–because nothing fixes life quite like what Scripture has to say.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 NKJV
3. Turn to God in Worship
Let us draw strength and inspiration from God’s countless devoted followers from ancient times to this day. Have we not proven time and again God's faithfulness? That’s why God’s servants remained faithful, worshipping Him unceasingly even in the throes of struggle and impending death. They were wise enough to understand that it’s in worshipping God in times of adversities that victory draws near.
When things don’t go as planned, when excruciating pain leaves us speechless, we can either find ourselves praising God on our knees or holding grudges against Him.
As Christians, our response to pain must always be worship. Hasn’t it always been the case that the most authentic, deepest worship comes from a broken heart? It’s what stirred God to move in more unexpected, wonderful ways than we could dare to wander.
We are more receptive to God’s voice when our hearts hum in sync with God, when our hearts open in quiet praise. With this, my ardent wish for you is that God’s voice would be louder than all the noise around you, guiding you through the chaos. So, here’s to finding a moment today where His voice rises above the noise so that you may find peace and deep rest in His presence amid the noisy, high-pressure world you live in.
“Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved" Psalm 55:22 NKJV.
Photo credit:©Unsplash/Natalia Figueredo
