How do we know if God is speaking to us? When we’re facing a big decision, looking for life guidance, or just trying to figure out if that week-old slice of pizza is still safe to eat, it’s natural to want to hear from the One who knows everything, past, present, and future.
(Maybe that pizza slice thing is just me.)
But how can we know if we’re actually hearing from God, or if that burning in our heart is just, you know, heartburn? Wouldn’t it be great if there were simple ways of knowing that God is speaking to us—and even more importantly, what He’s saying?
If you’re thinking to yourself, “Yeah, that would be great!” you’re in luck.
How Do You Know if God Is Speaking to You?
Sometimes, talking to God can feel like a one-sided conversation. You pray, spend time in silence, and pay attention to anything that might be God’s voice, but you get nothing. Frustrating, right?
Here’s the truth: God can speak to you through prayer, but there are other ways to hear God’s voice, too. Keep reading to learn four signs that God is speaking to you.
Sign 1: God Places a Conviction in Your Heart
You know that feeling when you just can’t get something off your heart? This might look like a cause you can’t stop thinking about, or a person you feel called to help, or an opportunity you just can’t let yourself pass up. Many times those passions come from God.
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 NIV
God cares deeply about all of His creation, and because He made us in His image, we’re made to care deeply, too.
God places convictions in our hearts so we’ll follow His lead and extend care and justice to the world around us.
But here’s the thing: God didn’t give us these passions so we can sit on them and do nothing. God places convictions in our hearts so we’ll follow His lead and extend care and justice to the world around us.
Is There Something on Your Heart?
So if there’s a conviction in your heart that you just can’t seem to shake, there’s a decent possibility God might be speaking to you, encouraging you to put that conviction into action and take a next step.
But how can you be sure the conviction you’re feeling comes from God? After all, plenty of people feel passion for their favorite sports team, and that’s not necessarily the type of passion we’re talking about here. Well, that brings us to the next sign God might be speaking to you.
Sign 2: God Speaks to You Through Scripture
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, and it’s one of the primary ways God speaks to people in modern times. Even though it’s been thousands of years since it was written, the Bible is full of wisdom for all of life’s circumstances. It can help us know the difference between right and wrong and show us how to tune out the noise made by the world around us and focus on the will of God.
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
So how can Scripture help us know if God is speaking to us? Well, if a conviction of yours lines up with God’s Word, or if you’re facing a choice and one of your options lines up with Scripture, that’s an excellent indicator that God might be encouraging you to pursue a particular path.
If you’re unsure where to start looking for God’s guidance in Scripture, check out the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. In these chapters, Jesus talks about what it means to live a life in pursuit of God’s will. He challenges the wisdom of His day and offers His disciples guidance on practical ways of following Him. If your conviction lines up with Jesus’ words in these chapters, there’s a good chance you’re on the right track.
Context Matters
Now, one caveat before you dive into Scripture. The Bible is an ancient text. Sometimes, we can read things into its passages that miss the original, intended meaning—things that might influence your understanding of what God might be trying to say to you. If you’re unsure what God might be saying through Scripture, what do you do?
Well, that brings us to our next sign God might be speaking to you.
Sign 3: God Speaks to You Through the People Around You
God doesn’t expect any of us to figure out life on our own. He made us to be in community. It’s through our relationships with other people that we grow, mature, and become more like Jesus.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV
Jesus knew this was true. That’s why He modeled this kind of community with His 12 disciples and an even wider circle of friends. By spending time together, eating together, and learning together, Jesus’ friends slowly figured out what it means to follow Him and pursue the purpose God had given each of them.
Ask for Help
Community can be especially important when you’re trying to figure out if God is speaking to you. If you’re not sure whether a particular conviction lines up with God’s will, or you’re not sure if you’re interpreting a part of Scripture correctly, one of the best things you can do is talk to someone about it. Discussing your questions with a wise, Christian friend or family member can bring clarity and discernment that’s difficult to access on your own.
So, what if you have a conviction, it’s backed up by Scripture, and your friends and family all give you a thumbs up? Does that mean God is definitely speaking to you and you have a green light to pursue this thing that’s on your heart?
Well, there’s one more sign that will help you know for sure.
Sign 4: God Opens (or Closes) a Door
When you’re trying to figure out what God wants you to do, one of the clearest signs He’s speaking to you is whether He opens or closes a door in front of you.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 NIV
Sometimes everything in life lines up. You’ll have a conviction in your heart, it will be backed up by Scripture and friends and family, and God will put an open door in front of you to pursue that thing. When this happens, take advantage of the opportunity! And thank God for His kindness in guiding you to this point.
But sometimes, even after everything else has seemed to line up, you’ll get a closed door. What then? Were all of the other signs just wishful thinking?
Not so fast. The conviction in your heart and the support of your family and friends were real. But a closed door might mean God has something different planned for you than what you’ve been envisioning. Or perhaps He just wants you to wait a little longer. No matter the reason, a closed door is an invitation to approach God and ask Him what’s next, trusting that He has a good plan for your life.
Opportunities are Invitations
And sometimes these things happen in reverse order! God opens a door that seems totally out of left field—an opportunity you never would have expected. This is an invitation, too: a time to back up and ask, “Has God given me a conviction for this? Does this open door have the support of Scripture and my friends and family?” If the answer to those questions is yes, that’s a good sign that God is pointing you toward this surprise open door.
But no matter what, you should …
Keep Looking for Signs
As you continue pursuing God and the convictions He’s given you, it’s important to remember that you’re never going to have it all figured out. Even if you find the perfect job or the perfect place to live or the perfect relationship, God will continue speaking to you.
Sometimes the perfect job might not be such a perfect fit. Or the perfect relationship will hit a rough patch. Or the perfect house will have a family of skunks move into the HVAC system.
Or, less dramatically, sometimes you’ll simply move from one season of life to another. And it will be time for a new job, or a new relationship, or a new house.
In every situation, God will continue speaking to you. So keep listening for Him! Keep listening as He makes your heart more like His, as He gives you a deeper understanding of Scripture, and as He grows your community and their ability to speak His words into your life.
If you keep your ears open for His voice, He’ll show you what’s next.