Learning God’s Voice From Samuel’s Encounter

Let’s talk about what God told yesterday, shall we?

Why are you looking surprised? You don’t remember it or you don’t believe he spoke to you? Well either way you’re wrong. 

Now, I may not know the details of what he said to you but I know he spoke because that’s his character- always speaking to his children. 

If you have a few minutes, I can show you from the story of young Samuel in 1 Samuel 3 that not only has God been speaking to you but I can show you how to make sense of it. Ready? Good! 

Who is Calling Your Name?

You see, the truth is that it’s not always about whether God is speaking, but whether we can recognize His voice. You need to understand that hearing God is often a matter of discernment, not audibility. In 1 Samuel 3:4-5, the Bible says the Lord called Samuel but Samuel responded immediately, thinking it was Eli calling him. Although God was speaking, Samuel didn’t realize it was Him. Many times, we’ve heard God, but like Samuel, we fail to recognize it. It sounded like the voice of your Pastor preaching on Sunday but it wasn’t him, it was God; it came like a verse of the scripture during your morning devotion but you moved on too quickly. You see! It’s not a hearing problem; it’s a discernment problem. Think about it like this: When I yell at my toddler, she smiles, thinking it’s part of a game. When I yell at my six-year-old, he adjusts his behaviour, understanding the meaning behind my voice. Both hear me, but only one discerns the message and the expected action.

Go and Lie Down

Secondly, in learning to hear God’s voice, a heart that is patient and ready to wait is required. In verse 9, Eli gave Samuel great advice: “Go and lie down.” This instruction isn’t just about resting physically; it’s about having a posture of stillness before God. We often rush through life, expecting to hear God on our schedule, but hearing God requires waiting on His timing. When we slow down, lie down in our hearts, and acknowledge that God can speak whenever He pleases, we make room for His voice. Ask yourself, “Am I truly waiting on God, or am I in a hurry to get my answer?”

Your Servant is Listening.

The third key is having a heart that is not just open to hearing but ready to respond. Eli’s second piece of advice to Samuel is to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” This is crucial. It’s not enough to hear God’s voice? if we’re not willing to obey what He says. A listening heart is one that’s prepared to act. When we say, “Lord, I’m listening,” it should mean, “Lord, I’m ready to obey.” How often do we want to hear from God but hesitate when His instructions require us to change or step outside our comfort zone? The true test of hearing God is found in our willingness to follow His lead.

So, think about your own life. Have you missed God’s voice because you weren’t discerning it? Or maybe you heard Him but weren’t ready to obey? Samuel’s encounter teaches us that hearing from God isn’t reserved for a select few. It’s available to anyone who is willing to listen, wait, and respond. God is still speaking today; the question is, are we truly listening?

As you reflect on Samuel’s story, consider how you can apply these three principles to your own relationship with God. Do you need to sharpen your discernment? Practice waiting more patiently? Or perhaps develop a heart that’s fully open to obeying whatever God says? When we align ourselves with these prerequisites, we’ll find that God’s voice becomes clearer, and our walk with Him grows deeper.

So today, let’s take a lesson from young Samuel. God may be speaking to you, even now. Are you ready to hear, and more importantly, are you ready to respond?