How to Listen When You Can't Hear

Often we go about our business rushing here and there and doing this and that and before we know it, we feel like we are about to be overwhelmed and on burnout. How can we not fall into stress and hear when God speaks to us? We often feel like God is silent and wonder if He actually speaks to us when we have a thousand other voices speaking to us. Our inner voice is important when this begins to happen. What do we tell ourselves? “I can’t do this!” “God isn’t with me!” “I don’t have enough strength!” “I can’t keep going!” If we find ourselves thinking like this then we definitely will not hear or succeed. The first step when that happens is we have to take our thoughts captive and tell ourselves the truth. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me!” “I am not alone!” “I just need grace for the next step!” “God is with me!”

The second step is to practice mindfulness. How has God spoken to me in the past? What graces and consolations has he given me in the past to help me take the next step? Often by recalling, God will give us a nugget of grace. The mountaintop experiences are for the valleys and the valley is for preparation for the mountaintop. Where in our body are we feeling this emotion? Stop. Breathe. Speak to yourself gently. When we create a silent, peaceful place it is easier to pick up on the movements of our hearts and hear how to take the next step.

Thirdly, show up to your post and do the best you can. Take a step. Often God over pours grace upon us when we take a step expecting Him to help us. He gives us strength not before or after but during. He is a God of the present. The temptation is to always think of the future, but God is not there. And if we loose ourselves in the past, then we can’t find Him in the present.

The next step is to listen to your gut. Do you have a quiet thought that makes you have peace or understand what might work? Have you asked your guardian angel to help you see God’s action in your heart? What is that little whisper saying? Clean the sink filled with dirty dishes. Make your bed. Tidy up the living room. That can be God tiding you over until He gives you a clear word. He has to prepare your heart for His presence and will speak in a whisper to get you there. The temptation is to notice how He moves in others and be jealous. But if we look here, then we blind ourselves to how He speaks to you. Jealousy blinds us and puts our hearts to sleep. We need the quiet breath of the Holy Spirit to show us God’s blessings.

The next step after that is to listen to the people who are in your life. Do they have a request for action? Are they telling you to take a break and sit in silence? God uses natural means to expand His kingdom. Little things done with love are not wasted. The most important thing is to make time for silent prayer. Fill our minds with God’s word. Does a phrase or word stick out to us? We have to battle it out and encounter God here in conversation and journaling. Perhaps there will be a little nugget to show you the soil of your heart and the action God wishes you to take or how He wants you to receive. The last step is to rest in God’s heart. Allow Him to carry you. He will not leave you alone and often carries us when it is the hardest to move. Often He is closer than we think, ready to help and bring us to a safer shore. We may not understand right away but in hindsight we might see a thread of discovery where God act

After this, we thank Him. An attitude of gratitude can give our hearts peace and strength. Remember that God will not give us something that we cannot carry. He has all the confidence in the world that you can and will succeed. These times of dryness are like exercising a weak muscle. It is these times that pull us closer to God if used rightly. These times give us an opportunity to practice trust and faith. These qualities are both virtues and an out pour of grace. (Meaning a gift that can only be given.) Have you been to confession in awhile? Can you reach out to your spiritual Father for direction? Another party can be helpful to recognize some objective things you might have missed. Stay calm and carry on. God does not leave us.