Listen Before It Hurts
When Life Feels Steady
It’s so easy to drift spiritually when life feels smooth. The strange part is how normal it seems. We relax. Let our guard down. We figure life is going fine, so we stop listening to the Spirit as intently. Yet the call to listen to God, before hardship shows up, is found throughout Scripture.
As an example, Jacob’s story in Genesis 31:11-18 caught my attention again. God spoke to him in a dream and told him to leave Laban’s household and return home. When Jacob shared this with Rachel and Leah, their answer surprised me. They basically said their father had nothing left to give them, so following God made sense.
It almost reads like, “We’ve got nothing to lose. Let’s go.”
I wonder how that moment would’ve sounded if life had been better for them. What if their father had treated them well? Would they still have been quick to follow? Maybe. Maybe not. But their words sure feel like the kind of obedience that shows up when everything else has fallen apart.
Listening When It Isn’t Urgent
That moment pushes me to look at my own life. I’ve caught myself listening more closely when things get shaky, yet coasting when things feel settled. I don’t always respond to God’s leading when I’m comfortable. But when pressure hits, suddenly I’m alert, praying harder and leaning in.
As a pastor, I’ve witnessed the same pattern in others. We wrestle through big decisions only after the ground moves under our feet. But God speaks long before the crisis. We’re invited to listen to God before the hardship comes because He knows what’s ahead. He wants to form our hearts before we reach the hard places.
When Ease Steals the Story
This idea reminded me of something Donald Miller wrote about the easy life stealing our story in A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. The line has stayed with me for years, and it fits here:
“…I realized how much of our lives are spent trying to avoid conflict. Half the commercials on television are selling us something that will make life easier. Part of me wonders if our stories aren’t being stolen by the easy life.” (Miller, 2009, 186)
Listening during calm seasons doesn’t weaken us. It strengthens our resolve. It shapes who we become. It teaches us trust, not because we’re desperate, but because we’re devoted.
A Step You Can Take Today
Maybe you’re facing a decision right now. Maybe God’s been nudging you to change something, start something, or leave something familiar. And maybe life feels fine, which makes the step feel even bigger.
If that’s where you’re at, I get it. In a way, it’s almost more difficult to follow God when things feel stable. But we have to remind ourselves that responding in seasons of calm, can build a faith that holds steady when storms come.
So, if God’s been whispering to your heart, take a step. It may stretch you. It may cost you comfort. But you’ll discover the kind of adventure He writes into the lives of people who trust Him early, not late.
Join the Conversation; Answer This Question
- Where do you sense God inviting you to take a step of faith while life still feels steady?
But on the other hand, if you head straight into conflict, you are about to get hurt. I say that you should go about your way, and if something comes up, deal with it in a thankful manner. Plus, as you go about your way, people will come up who need the gospel of Christ.
I hear what you’re saying. None of us need to hunt for conflict, and stepping into it on purpose usually ends with some bruises. I’ve found it helps to walk closely with Jesus in the normal rhythm of the day and stay ready for what comes. When our hearts are tuned to Him, we’re not as rattled when something hard shows up. And you’re right that along the way, we meet people who desperately need the hope of Christ, which is moment that matters most.
I believe that if I sincerely want to hear God speak and see Him work and I tell God every morning that I will do whatever He wants for that day then I will hear Him, see Him and obey what it is He has for me today.
This way I don't need to second guess my actions and my fear of free-falling or getting hurt. Oh, there is still a lot of uncomfortableness (is that a word?) but God blesses us in amazing ways!
I love the picture you shared. Starting the morning by telling God you’re willing to follow Him changes how the whole day feels. I’ve seen the same thing in my own life. There’s still that uncomfortable stretch sometimes, but God works in it. When we come with a willing heart, we end up hearing Him more clearly and seeing Him move in ways we didn’t expect.