Eight Hindrances that Keep Us from Hearing God’s Voice

This may seem strange to some, but most of my growing up years in church, I didn’t know that God still spoke today. I didn’t understand that God wanted a relationship with a two-way conversation. I didn’t realize that we could speak to God just like we do with our friends or family, and that He would respond.

But, there are many things that can hinder our ability to hear from God. The following hindrances are some of the more prominent ones I have found throughout ministry and my own journey.

1. Sin

If we have any unconfessed sin in our lives, it is a huge hindrance to hearing the voice of God, because God does not abide sin.

When Jesus bore our sins at Calvary, Matthew 27:46 tells us,

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Even King David also cried out, in times of trouble, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?” (Psalm 22:1 NIV)

If we are having difficulty hearing God’s voice, we need to take an account and see if there is any sin in our lives, remember, God does not abide sin.

“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18 – NIV)

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV)

2. Misunderstanding/Wrong Teaching

Because of previous teachings that were not biblically based, I didn’t understand that God still speaks today, and eventually believed God had nothing to say to me other than pointing out what I was doing wrong. This misunderstanding and wrong teaching actually formed a difficult paradigm for me to overcome.

3. Fear

Hearing from God is rooted in faith and belief. Fear and faith cannot co-exist, and they battle for space within us. If we allow fear to take over, then faith gets pushed aside. Faith is from God and fear is from the enemy. In 1 Kings 19, we see how detrimental fear can be to hearing God. Elijah, God’s prophet, had just had an amazing victory over hundreds of Baal worshipers, when verse 3 tells us that he became afraid and ran for his life because of a single threat.

Fear has a way of distorting truth and eats away at what God is doing in our lives. When we are afraid, it’s difficult to discern whose voice we are hearing. We need to have faith that Scripture is true. If we are God’s children, we can hear and know His voice, and triumph over the voice of the Liar.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27 NIV).

4. Doubt (lack of faith)

Doubt states something about who we think God is. God’s nature is love and His promises are sure. Struggling with doubt reveals our insecurities about either God’s ability, our view of our standing with God, or our lack of deserving. Allowing doubt and unbelief into our lives can become a hindrance to hearing God’s voice. When we doubt that God speaks at all, or we doubt that He will speak to us, it creates a blockage in our hearts and minds. If we doubt the truths of God’s word, we need to confess and repent. Ask God for forgiveness and to open our spiritual ears to hear from Him.

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:6-7 NIV)

5. Pride

We are called to be dependent upon God, not independent. Pride is sin, plain and simple. It’s a mindset and attitude that says, “I don’t need God,” “I don’t need to hear from Him,” or “I can do it myself.” As you read Samson’s story in Judges 13-16, we see he clearly had pride.  Samson was overconfident and determined he didn’t need help from anyone or anything, including God. He wanted to do things his way, and often took matters into his own hands.

“As has just been said: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion’” (Hebrews 3:15 NIV).

6. Distractions/Too Busy

We live in a day and time when life is busy. My to-do list is overflowing with an abundance of items from my personal, professional and ministry life. Society has taught us that “busy” is the new normal. In fact, we can keep ourselves so busy that we don’t have time to spend with God, let alone wait on God. Now throw in distractions like social media, TV, video games and other similar items and there’s so much noise it’s difficult to tune into God’s frequency.

7. Shame

Shame keeps us from accepting our true position as children of God and can be an obstacle to hear from Him. Shame tells us that we don’t measure up and we are not enough. Shame makes us believe God would never speak to us, or we are unworthy, and these feelings can separate us from God. It’s imperative we fight against shame with confession, inner healing, and standing on the truth of Scripture.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2 NIV)

8. Listening to others instead of God

We all have been given the Spirit of God. Good friends can confirm and advise, but they can never replace the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.  Sadly, it is all too easy for us to turn to others and ask their opinions and advice before going to God. I’ve been guilty of this very thing myself, have you?

A crisis moment occurs, and we go to others first instead of God. We want their council, their opinions, and we want them to approach God and hear for us. When this happens, we insert someone else in the middle of our personal relationship with God. God wants to speak to us, He wants us to come directly to Him, unhindered, vulnerable, and available to listen when He speaks.

What delight comes to those who follow God’s ways! They won’t walk in step with the wicked, nor share the sinner’s way, nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat (Psalm 1:1 The Passion Translation).