Volume 22: The Crisis of Being Spiritually Deaf

Day 126 Devotional

THE CRISIS OF BEING SPIRITUALLY DEAF

One of the greatest ironies in modern Christianity is that we have become exceptionally skilled at talking about God while becoming increasingly unfamiliar with hearing Him. We live in an era where communication has never been easier. Sermons and podcasts are available around the clock. Social media gives everyone a platform. Opinions travel instantly across the globe. Yet despite having more religious content than any generation in history, many believers remain spiritually confused, easily distracted, and uncertain about what God is actually saying. That reality should force us to ask an uncomfortable question: if information is increasing, why is discernment decreasing?

The answer may be simpler than we think. Scripture never teaches that faith is produced through speaking more. It teaches that faith is produced through hearing. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” That single verse challenges much of modern Christianity’s obsession with visibility, influence, and self-expression. Faith comes through hearing God.

Hearing Has Always Preceded Obedience

When you begin tracing the lives of God’s servants throughout Scripture, a consistent pattern emerges. Before Abraham obeyed, he heard. Before Moses confronted Pharaoh, he heard. Before Samuel became a prophet, he heard. Before Isaiah preached, he heard. Before Paul carried the gospel throughout the Roman world, he heard. Throughout the Bible, hearing always precedes obedience because no one can faithfully follow instructions they have never received.

Perhaps that is why one of the most powerful prayers in Scripture comes from a young Samuel who simply says, “Speak; for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:10). Notice how different that posture is from much of modern prayer. Many believers spend most of their prayer time telling God what they want, what they need, what they dislike, and what they hope He will do. Samuel approached God differently. He positioned himself to listen. His expectation was not that God would hear him. His expectation was that he would hear from Heaven.

The Difference Between Information and Hearing

Jesus repeatedly said something that should arrest our attention: “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” At first glance the statement seems unnecessary because everyone standing before Him possessed physical ears. Yet Jesus was revealing that hearing and listening are not the same thing. A person can hear words without receiving truth. A person can hear sermons without experiencing transformation. A person can attend church every week while remaining spiritually deaf to conviction, correction, and the voice of God.

The Pharisees prove this point. Few people in history possessed more biblical information than they did. They memorized Scripture, studied Scripture, taught Scripture, and debated Scripture. Yet when the Word became flesh and stood before them, they could not recognize Him. Their problem was not ignorance. Their problem was spiritual hearing. Information had filled their minds, but pride had closed their ears.

Why Many Believers Struggle to Hear God

The longer I walk with Christ, the more convinced I become that many believers are not struggling because God has stopped speaking. They are struggling because their lives have become too loud. We live surrounded by constant noise. Phones vibrate endlessly. News cycles never stop. Entertainment is available every waking moment. Opinions flood our minds from morning until night. As a result, many people have mastered consuming content while slowly losing the ability to sit quietly before God.

Yet Scripture repeatedly shows God meeting people in places of stillness. Moses encountered God in a wilderness. Jacob encountered God when he was alone. John received the Revelation while isolated on Patmos. Even Jesus regularly withdrew from crowds to spend time with the Father. The pattern is impossible to ignore. God’s people often hear Him most clearly when competing voices are removed.

This explains why Elijah encountered God not through the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but through a still small voice. God was fully capable of speaking through dramatic displays of power. Yet He chose a whisper because whispers require closeness. They force people to lean in. They require attention. They cultivate intimacy.

The Voice That Points to Christ

Perhaps the clearest statement Jesus ever made about relationship is found in John 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Notice the order carefully. Hearing comes before following. Following comes before fruitfulness. Christianity is not primarily about religious activity. It is about becoming so familiar with the voice of Christ that His leadership becomes recognizable.

That is why hearing God matters so much. Every voice in the world is competing for our attention. Culture has a voice. Politics has a voice. Social media has a voice. Fear has a voice. Pride has a voice. Ambition has a voice. Yet only one voice leads to life. The voice of the Shepherd has always been the distinguishing mark of His sheep.

The Uncomfortable Truth

The truth is that not everyone genuinely wants to hear from God. We often say that we do, but hearing God comes with accountability. When God speaks, excuses disappear. When God speaks, compromise is exposed. When God speaks, repentance becomes necessary. Many people want encouragement, but few want correction. Many want promises, but few want instructions. Many want comfort, but few want transformation.

Yet throughout Scripture, hearing God was never treated as entertainment. It was preparation for obedience. The purpose of hearing was never simply to gain information. The purpose of hearing was to become more like Christ.

The Church does not suffer from a shortage of voices. It suffers from a shortage of ears. The greatest prayer many believers could pray today is not, “Lord, hear me,” but rather, “Lord, help me hear You.”