Have you ever opened your Bible, desperate to hear from God… and heard nothing?
That was me the other day.
I was feeling discouraged and emotionally low, so I did what I knew to do—I went to God’s Word. I opened to Romans and started reading, working my way from chapter 5 through chapter 8. I slowed down. I listened. I tried to hear.
But nothing.
No clarity. No comfort. Just frustration.
When God Feels Silent
The longer I sat there, the more discouraged I became. Why wasn’t God speaking? I was doing the “right” thing, wasn’t I?
Then a thought stirred in my spirit:
“Maybe I don’t want you to read in Romans.”
It stopped me.
So I paused and asked, “Okay God… where do You want me to read?”
The answer came: Galatians.
Still unsure, I asked again, “Which chapter?”
“3.”
I hesitated. I don’t always trust that still, small voice. But this time, I chose to follow it—trusting that my heart is united with Christ.
The Passage That Changed Everything
I turned to Galatians 3 and began reading:
“You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” (Galatians 3:1–5 NASB)
And instantly, something in me woke up.
It was like my spirit was saying:
“Pay attention. This is for you.”
Convicted… But Not Condemned
As I read, I sensed God gently showing me something:
I had started to rely on myself again.
In the middle of my struggles, I had slowly shifted from dependence on Jesus to dependence on my own strength. I wasn’t consciously rejecting Him—but I was quietly trusting my flesh to carry what only His Spirit was meant to hold.
And here’s what struck me the most:
There was no shame in His correction.
Only truth.
Only clarity.
Only invitation.
God wasn’t scolding me—He was reminding me of my identity in Him, convincing me of my righteousness and leading me to trust Him with everything.
The Danger of “Little Things”
One of the biggest lies we believe is this:
“This is small. I can handle this on my own.”
But here’s what I’m learning:
One thousand “small things” become very heavy over time.
And when we carry them in our own strength, we slowly drift from the very grace that once felt so life-giving.
Galatians 3 reminded me:
👉 I didn’t begin this life with Jesus by striving.
👉 I’m not meant to continue it that way either.
It has always been—and will always be—by faith.
Learning to Hear God’s Voice Again
There was another gift in this moment that I don’t want to miss:
I heard God’s voice.
I trusted it.
And I obeyed.
And it was so simple.
Not loud.
Not complicated.
Just a gentle redirection that led exactly where I needed to go.
It made me realize something important:
Sometimes we struggle to hear God not because He isn’t speaking—but because we’re expecting Him to speak in a different place, or in a different way.
If You Feel Spiritually Dry Right Now
If you’re in a season where God feels silent, here’s what I want to gently remind you:
- Keep looking to Jesus and surrender to Him
- Stay open to His leading—even when it feels unexpected
- Don’t default back to self-reliance
- Trust that His Spirit in you is enough for every moment
You are not meant to carry your life in your own strength.
You never were.
A Simple Prayer
God,
Thank You for Your patience with me.
Thank You that You don’t shame me when I drift—you gently bring me back.
Teach me to trust Your Spirit in every moment, even in the small things.
Help me hear Your voice and give me the courage to follow.
Amen.
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