Knowing the Shepherd’s Voice: Learning to Hear God
Pastor Victoria Sowell
Understanding how to hear God’s voice is one of the most important parts of a life of faith. Many people ask, “Is this my voice or God’s? Does God really speak to me? What do I do when I think I’ve heard Him?” These are honest questions, and the Bible gives us clear pictures of how God speaks and how we can learn to listen. This is not a formula, but a way of life rooted in closeness with God. Click the link here for the full message.
Hearing God Through Following the Shepherd
Jesus used the image of a shepherd and his sheep in John 10:1-5 (NIV):
"The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice."
To hear God, we must learn to follow. Following is not about control but connection. The Shepherd leads with safety and care, and the sheep learn His voice by staying near Him. Too often, we celebrate independence and self-reliance, but the Kingdom of God values dependence. The closer we stay, the more we hear.
Dependence on God → Communion with God → Communication from God
If God feels distant, it may not be because He has gone quiet—it might be because we’ve wandered. Following means tuning out the noise of other voices and recognizing that only one voice truly leads us to life.
Recognizing the Stranger’s Voice
Sheep don’t follow strangers because they don’t recognize their voice. In the same way, we must resist the temptation to follow the wrong voices. The stranger’s voice sounds like fear, pressure, isolation, or confusion. The Shepherd’s voice, by contrast, is steady, safe, and consistent.
The danger comes when we let too many voices lead us. Advice, opinions, culture, and even good people can become louder than God if we aren’t careful. Good influences in life are valuable, but the best ones point us back to God’s voice instead of replacing it.
Ask yourself: Whose voice am I listening to most? If it doesn’t sound like love, safety, or truth, it might not be the Shepherd.
Hearing God Through Scripture
The voice of God is never inconsistent with His Word. Scripture is not optional for those who want to hear God—it is the very breath of God shaping us.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV)
John 1:1-5 reminds us that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”
If we ignore Scripture, we risk mishearing or misunderstanding God’s voice. The Bible reveals His character, His nature, and His heart. Many of our biggest questions—about purpose, relationships, and decisions—are already answered in these pages.
Practical steps for reading Scripture:
Observation: What does the text say?
Interpretation: What does it mean?
Application: How does this apply to my life?
When we let Scripture form us daily, we develop a familiarity with God’s voice that cannot be shaken by noise or lies.
Stories of the Power of Scripture
For centuries, people have given their lives to preserve, translate, and share the Word of God. Missionaries like Cameron Townsend began translation projects so that even remote languages could read Scripture. In persecuted nations like China, believers memorized entire books of the Bible because their printed copies were at risk of being confiscated.
What many take for granted today is still a treasure for others. In places where owning a Bible has been illegal, Christians risked their lives just to have one page. If others are willing to die for the Word, how can we treat it as optional?
Hearing God Through Waiting
Psalm 37:7 (NIV) says, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”
Hearing God requires stillness. Many times, we expect Him to shout over our distractions, but His whisper is heard in the quiet. Habakkuk modeled this when he said:
"I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me..."(Habakkuk 2:1-3, NIV)
God answered him when he waited. This is where trust is formed. Waiting is not easy—it can feel inconvenient or confusing to others—but God never delays without purpose. His timing is always wiser than ours.
Ask yourself: Am I making decisions out of rush, emotions, or fear? Or am I willing to wait for a clear “God said” before I move forward?
Letting God Define Us
Another barrier to hearing God is how we view ourselves. If we assume God is silent because we’ve failed or are unworthy, we will miss His love. Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV) says:
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."
God delights in being with His people. He wants us to hear His voice not as a judge waiting for mistakes but as a Father guiding His children.
Dallas Willard once said, “Misconceiving the nature of our Heavenly Father and of His intent for us creates a truly overwhelming problem to block our understanding of God’s communication with us as His redeemed children and friends.”
When we believe that we are loved, chosen, and safe in Christ, we listen differently. We stop asking only for answers and begin seeking His presence. His voice becomes not just guidance but relationship.
Putting It All Together
To know the Shepherd’s voice means:
Following Him instead of wandering.
Rejecting the stranger’s voice of fear and confusion.
Letting Scripture form and guide us.
Waiting for His timing instead of rushing.
Trusting His love and letting Him define our identity.
These are not one-time lessons but daily practices. Over time, the Shepherd’s voice becomes familiar and steady—like a friend you’ve known your whole life.
Practical Takeaways
Turn down one stranger’s voice this week (social media, fear, comparison) and choose prayer or worship instead.
Start your day with one verse of Scripture and write down what it shows you about God’s character.
Before making a big decision, pause. Wait for clarity instead of reacting emotionally.
Speak one biblical affirmation over yourself each day to remind your heart who God says you are.
Further Reading
Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer
Other Links
Want to hear more? Check out last week’s message titled “Hearing the Still Small Voice of God” on View Church YouTube.
Explore more spiritual growth resources on our View Church Resources Page.