Whole Hearted Week: The Static in the Signal

Six things that can keep you from hearing God and how to clear the line 

I don’t think God is silent nearly as often as we think He is. I think there’s static in the signal.

Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) That’s normal life with God. So if you’ve been feeling like, “Man, I can’t hear Him,” this isn’t for shame. This is for clarity. We don’t want our faith to be foggy, drowned out by the drama and noise of the world around us. We do alignment. We do obedience. We get in tune with God, and we go Kingdom Forward.

Here are six common blockers, and the clean up for each one.

1.Unrepented sin: not because God won’t love you, because sin numbs you

Sin doesn’t just break rules, it breaks sensitivity. Isaiah says, “Your iniquities have separated you from your God… so that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2) That’s not God being cruel. That’s sin creating distance in the relationship. Some of us are asking God for direction while holding on to disobedience. God loves you too much to give you “next steps” when you’re ignoring “known steps.”

Clean up the connection: confess fast, repent fully, and obey the last thing God already told you. (1 John 1:9)

2.Idols: when something else gets God’s volume

An idol isn’t just a statue. It’s anything that gets your first love and first attention. Approval. Comfort. Control. Money. Even ministry results. Psalm 115 says idols can’t speak, and then it says, “Those who make them will be like them.” (Psalm 115:8) When you worship dead things, your spirit starts going numb. God doesn’t compete for first place, because He’s not trying to be part of your life. He’s Lord of it.

Clean up the connection: dethrone the thing, return to first love, and put God back in the lead seat. (Matthew 6:33)

3.Hurry: the enemy of intimacy

God’s voice is often a whisper. Elijah didn’t hear God in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but in the gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19) Whispers require closeness. And closeness requires margin. Hurry trains you to only hear God when He has to shout, and He usually doesn’t shout.

Clean up the connection: slow down on purpose, create quiet on purpose, and make space for the whisper. (Psalm 46:10)

4.Unforgiveness: when bitterness blocks God’s best

Unforgiveness doesn’t just mess up relationships, it messes up discernment. Hebrews warns about a root of bitterness that defiles. (Hebrews 12:15) Jesus says if you come to worship and you remember something relational is off, go deal with it. (Matthew 5:23–24) That’s wild, but it’s mercy. God is protecting your heart from spiritual congestion.

Clean up the connection: forgive as an act of obedience, bless what hurt you, and release the debt. (Ephesians 4:31–32)

5.Pride: when you only want God to confirm you, not confront you

Pride filters God’s voice into “stuff I already agree with.” James says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) Humility says, “Speak, Lord, I’m listening.” Pride says, “Speak, Lord, as long as I like it.” God won’t become your personal echo. He’s your Shepherd, and shepherds correct because they care.

Clean up the connection: get low, get teachable, and ask God for truth, not validation. (Psalm 139:23–24)

6. Neglecting Scripture: wanting a “word” while ignoring the Word

God can speak through impressions, worship, people, sermons, moments. But Scripture is the anchor. Paul says it’s “God-breathed.” (2 Timothy 3:16) The Spirit doesn’t contradict the Word, He illuminates it. If you keep asking for a fresh word while staying closed to the Bible, you’re asking for personal guidance without covenant alignment.

Clean up the connection: open the Word daily, start small, and let God’s voice become familiar again. (Psalm 119:105)

Kingdom City, this is what we’re doing. We’re not living led by feelings. We’re living led by the Spirit. We’re not drifting. We’re aligning. We’re not casual. We’re consecrated. And when the line is clear, the voice of God becomes normal again.

Three questions to sit with this week

What’s been the loudest voice in me lately?

Is there anything I’m delaying that I already know God has been dealing with?

What would change if I gave God my best attention instead of my leftovers?