Listening to a Voice You Can’t Hear

1: The Way to Begin Again | Scene 4: Weak and Distant | Day 4 of 6

They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
 - Mark 1:21–22

I got super stressed out when I got close to graduation.

I don’t know if this has ever happened to you, but I became obsessed with what was going to happen next. Abilene, Texas, circa 1992 was not a hot bed of economic activity. I’d had a cool job at the CBS affiliate in town, which I’d let go of (more on that questionable decision later). For the previous year I’d been working at a local church. I’d felt what I thought was a calling, and I was trying to figure it out.

The thing was, I didn’t know what to do.

I figured I’d apply to several schools and wait for a clear sign, like a closed door, or an obvious open one. Instead, I got accepted into all three. Not helpful.

I kept wishing God would send me an unmistakable sign: Go here! But it didn’t come.

A clear answer from God was not coming down like a text. What I didn’t yet understand was that learning to hear God’s voice isn’t a one-time event. It is a relationship. A rhythm.

In our story, Jesus has begun to teach publicly. What would hearing Jesus publicly speak have been like? Mesmerizing, to be sure.

Imagining ourselves in that audience that day begs the question, is such an experience possible now?

In his book Hearing God, Dallas Willard opens with a story of a faithful grandmother who admitted she didn’t understand how to hear God’s voice. It was a powerful confession that unlocked a life changing conversation.

If we don’t understand how to hear God speak to us, then we move into the dangerous territory— “to the faith-destroying, even blasphemous idea that everything that happens in this world is caused by God.”¹

Unpacking and understanding how this all works is part of our entire journey, and not just the focus of one day, but let’s begin with where we are in our story. In Mark, Jesus has just chosen his first followers. The next weekend, He walks into the synagogue the next weekend and begins teaching.

Immediately, Jesus causes a scene.

To be clear: the synagogue in Jesus’ time was a center of community. People coming and going all the time. It was open and public, more like a coffee shop or community center than a quiet little country church. It was a place for teaching, discussion, and daily life. Jesus and His family likely spent a lot of time there.

Now, imagine sitting in the synagogue that day. Amid the hustle and bustle, a new teacher speaks, and something about His words stops you in your tracks. Both his words and his delivery capture your attention. He speaks with power. His words are fresh, full of hope, and deeply meaningful.

One of the hardest parts of experiencing the story of Jesus as the disciples did is that we keep projecting backwards with omniscience the people did not yet have. This moment is before miracles and healings. To the listeners in the moment, Jesus was no different than any man.

Yet… Jesus projected authority.

What was it about him that day? Given what we are yet to experience, we know his words were fresh and innovative yet not outside of the tradition. He certainly was not performative.

Simply, there was an undeniable presence while listening to Him.

The people trusted Him. Even if they didn’t fully understand who He was, they knew His voice was different.

Many people today say they struggle to hear God’s voice. But notice this: at this point in the story, Jesus has done no miracles, no healings, no supernatural signs. And still, people are amazed.

Maybe hearing God starts not with asking for something, but by learning to listen for to an authoritative voice that speaks to us.

Are you ready to listen?

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Have you ever wished God would just tell you what to do? Say you’re facing an unresolved problem. You just want a clear answer to thunder down from heaven—something loud and obvious. But more often, God’s voice doesn’t sound like a loud event. It feels more like a nudge. Learning to listen to Jesus takes time, and it starts with recognizing Jesus’ authority.

Pray

Lord, help me tune my heart to Your voice. Teach me to recognize Your words, trust Your character, and follow where You lead. Amen.

Live It

• A time: Think of a time when you have wanted God to tell you an answer.

• Repentance: What connection, if any, exists between repentance and listening?

• Read: This week, set aside a few minutes each day to quietly read a few verses from one of the Gospels. Focus on Jesus’ words.

• Don’t rush. Read slowly. Ask: What is Jesus saying? What word or phrase stands out? Write it down.

• Patience: Don’t expect an answer right away. Be patient and wait.

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Where We Are: Season 1 | Scene 4 of 6 | Day 4 of 6

Next: Day Five posts Thursday, February 26, 2026

Coming Soon: After this scene, we’ll move to Scene Five: The Lie That God Just Wants to Use Me

1. Dallas Willard, Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2012), 20.