The Divine Comedy of Trying Too Hard to Hear God

The Divine Comedy of Trying Too Hard to Hear God 

I have a puppy who cracks me up every time I try to train her. When I say "sit," she'll go through her entire repertoire—spinning, staying, rolling over—everything except the one simple thing I asked for. She thinks she knows what I want, but she's not actually listening to my words. 

Sometimes I wonder if God looks at me the same way. "Oh, isn't that cute? If she would just settle down and listen, we could get this done a lot faster." 

The Voluntary Kingdom 

Here's something that revolutionized my understanding: Jesus is King of the universe, but His lordship in your life is completely voluntary. He wants you to want Him in your life. You're not a slave in God's Kingdom—you're free. 

But here's the catch: you can't profess Him as Lord and then turn a deaf ear to Him. That's like saying, "I want a relationship with you, but I don't want to hear what you have to say." It doesn't work that way. 

The beautiful paradox is that when we stop striving to perform for God and start simply being with Him, communication becomes natural. When we quit doing spiritual gymnastics to impress Him, we can actually hear what He's saying. 

When Trying Too Hard Backfires 

I used to think hearing God required perfect spiritual posture—the right words, the right environment, the right level of holiness. I'd psych myself up for prayer time like I was preparing for a performance review with the CEO of the universe. 

But God isn't sitting in heaven with a clipboard, grading my spiritual technique. He's not wringing His hands wondering when I'll finally "get it." He's simply waiting for me to relax enough to recognize His voice that's been there all along. 

The more I strive, the more I miss Him. The more I try to manufacture a supernatural encounter, the more I overlook His gentle whispers in ordinary moments. It's like trying so hard to fall asleep that you keep yourself awake. 

Enter the Kingdom Like a Child 

Children don't overthink relationship. They just believe. They're curious. They ask questions without fearing they'll sound stupid. They receive love naturally because they haven't learned to complicate it yet. 

Jesus said we need to enter God's Kingdom like children, and I think this is part of what He meant. Children don't question whether their parent's voice is really their parent's voice—they just respond. They don't analyze every word to death—they trust and engage. 

When was the last time you approached God with that kind of simple faith? Not the faith that has to figure everything out, but the faith that says, "I trust You can communicate with me, and I trust You'll keep me safe in the process." 

The Relief of Not Being in Charge 

Here's what I've learned: if it feels hard, I'm trying too hard. God doesn't hide from us—we just get too busy performing to notice He's right there. The relief that comes when you stop trying to be the perfect Christian and start being the beloved child is incredible. 

Holy Spirit isn't looking for spiritual athletes. He's looking for people who will simply say, "Yes, Lord, I want to hear You" and then get still enough to listen. 

You don't have to earn the right to hear God's voice. You don't have to reach a certain spiritual maturity level. You just have to be willing to receive what He's already giving. 

If you've been exhausting yourself trying to hear God "right," it might be time to learn how simple and natural it really is. Sometimes the best spiritual discipline is learning to stop trying so hard. 

Blessings, 
Susan Dewbrew