The Bible says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). As Christians, we are followers of Christ, and we are all called to live according to God’s law; we are called to live a life of service to God and our fellow man. But sometimes, in the midst of life and our shortcomings, we fall off course with God and have trouble hearing God’s voice.
Still, nothing is more important than God’s calling for your life, especially your calling to follow Him. Knowing the signs He’s trying to tell you something and how to discern those messages are imperative in order to live the life God wants for us. Jesus may be trying to reach you to encourage you back on a spiritual course. It’s important to tune out the commotion, if only for a few moments each day, in order to hear His voice. Here are six signs God is trying to tell you something.
You receive answers you didn’t know you needed.
Sometimes, when we reach out to God, He gives us the answers to questions we didn’t even know we were asking. God always provides according to His purpose for us. Let’s take our reading or listening of the Bible for example. How often have you read the Bible and a particular verse or set of verses just jumped out at you? You weren’t sure why, but it just felt like those verses were speaking to you. They were. When these moments happen, ask God what He is trying to tell you through these verses.
Some people make it a practice of reading through scripture and asking at the end of each reading which verses stood out most to them. If you’re in tune with the reading but nothing stands out to you, maybe those particular verses aren’t speaking to you, and that’s okay. Don’t think of the Bible as a storybook. Think of the Bible as your guide to handling your everyday.
You want to help others.
This doesn’t even have to be a desire to help others in ministry. Sometimes, God is telling you to do more for others because you simply feel led to do so. The Bible tells us, “Now you belong to Him…in order that you might be useful in service to God” (Romans 7:4). One of the most significant ways to display God’s love and reflect Christ’s presence is through acts of kindness and giving back.
Regardless of your job or career, you are called to full-time Christian service. If you feel an underlying urge to do something bigger than yourself, to benefit the greater good without any need for reward, you are being called to take up Your cross. Listen to Him. When you use your God-given abilities to help others, you are fulfilling your calling.
You’re suddenly passionate about a cause.
Sometimes, God tells us things in ways we may never have imagined. Sometimes, Jesus is trying to get your attention by telling you that you have a greater calling. This may translate into a career shift. As Mark 10:45 reminds us, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” That means that we should live lives that reflect our service to others. If your current job doesn’t reflect this and you feel like something is missing or isn’t feeling right, Jesus is trying to get your attention. Our calling may not be revealed to us overnight, but through using our gifts and talents in our careers, many of us discover what feels right and develop a need to do more.
Your relationships start to reveal things to you.
Our relationships can reveal an important message from God. Be open to listening to what the people in your life have to say, especially the spiritual ones, mainly if you’ve fallen off course with God. These people will affirm you. They are placed in your life by God so that you can recognize your full potential, and God might send an important message through them. On the other side, be mindful of people who take you off course with God. Anyone who causes a separation between you and God is not a good person to have in your space. Once we remove these people from our lives, we are in a better place to see God’s Will for our lives. Be especially present in new relationships that you weren’t expecting. God may place these people in your life to reveal something important about the direction God would like you to take.
You have a greater interest in church.
If you’ve been out of touch with God and, of course, spiritually, you may not have been to church in a while, and if you have been attending regularly, you may feel disconnected from the service and message. But if you’ve found your way back to church, or you’re in church and a verse, a song, or something in the pastor’s central message catches your attention, it is a sign that God is reaching out to you to listen. Don’t think this is just by chance. The Holy Spirit is active in God’s house and sending you an important message. Embrace whatever that is for you and watch good things begin to open up in your life. Also, don’t be afraid of what may be revealed through these messages.
You start to feel the power of prayer at work.
If you’re beginning to see how your prayers are being answered, you can see the power of God at work. God is trying to tell you something in these moments. Jeremiah 33:3 tells us, “Call to me, and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Our Lord wants an intimate relationship with us, and prayer is the best way to communicate with God. He wants us to actively call on Him so that He can answer our prayers.
Never underestimate how real the power of prayer is. It can really help us to grow in our relationship with God. Even in our busy personal and professional schedules, we all have time to give to God. When we’re going through dark periods in our lives and don’t know where to turn, practicing prayer daily gives us the chance to share where we are with God. Prayer also gives us the chance to hear what God is saying to us. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” He wants us to be close to Him, and prayer is the perfect opportunity to draw near Him and hear what God is telling us.
As Christians, we want to know what God is telling us, but it’s not always easy to hear His voice or discern the messages that may be right in front of us. Sometimes, we may even be anxious to discover His message. We want to know what God is telling us and follow His direction. We want to know the one grand purpose God had for us and which paths Jesus is directing us down so we can make the best decisions. Ultimately, we are called to love God, love others, obey God, and take care of others. You may not be able to hear His voice directly, but if you can concentrate on these signs, He may be revealing something great for you.
