If you’ve been feeling heavy, discouraged, worn down, confused, stressed out—you need God’s voice. His voice is the cure for heaviness.

When you know what He is saying to you, you will be able to have greater peace. “I have heard His voice, and I know what to do now.”

You will have greater confidence to do what He’s told you to do. “This is what He is saying. I don’t know how all of this is going to work out, but He told me not to worry about it, and I trust Him.”

You will also know what is the most important thing to Him. His voice cuts off confusion. “He is concerned about my heart. He is more concerned about my heart than He is about what I can do for Him.”

Here are a few things God sounds like:

He sounds like protection.

Fear not, for I am with you. (Isa. 41:10a ESV)

He sounds like courage.  

Be not dismayed, for I am your God. (Isa. 41:10b ESV)

He sounds like fearlessness in times of danger.

Call your councils of war, but they will be worthless.
    Develop your strategies, but they will not succeed.
    For God is with us! (Isa. 8:10 NLT)

He sounds like love and goodness.

All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and goodness and truth and faithfulness. (Ps. 25:10 AMP)

He sounds like holiness—like the very best there is. All the ways of God are holy. Everything He does and says is holy.

But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy. (1 Pet. 1:15 ESV)

He sounds like wisdom. Not the “wisdom” of the world, but divine wisdom. Holy wisdom. Wisdom that sincerely does have all the answers, including what will heal the aching places in your heart.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding. (Isa. 11:2 NLT)

Here are a few things God does NOT sound like:

• He does not sound like fear (Isa. 30:15–18).

• He does not sound like confusion, anxiety, or frailty (2 Tim. 1:7).

• He does not sound like an unloving Father who can’t be bothered (John 3:16).

• He does not sound like condemnation (Ps. 37:33).

• He does not sound like hopelessness (Rom. 15:13).

Go find a quiet place to be with Jesus.

Relax in His presence, and take your time with Him. Talk to Him about what’s been bothering you, and listen for His voice. Write down what you think He’s saying to you, and treasure it dearly.