By: Tania Harris
The question can quietly haunt even the most committed follower of Jesus.
We long to hear God’s voice—until the moment we think it might disrupt our carefully laid plans and desires. I once spoke with a young woman who captured this feeling perfectly: “I’m too scared to listen to the Holy Spirit,” she said, “what if God says something I don’t like?”
I’ve known the feeling. I remember having the same fear at the beginning of my God conversations journey. What if God asked me to move to a country I didn’t want to live in? Or marry someone I didn’t like? What if God’s will doesn’t align with my desires?
Our fear of what God might say disappears when we remember what God is like. Adam’s story shows us why.
Adam was leading a Bible study for a group of people who were struggling with addictions and crime. One evening, he gave them a simple homework assignment: “Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you this week. Then come back and tell us what God said.”
The next week, they gathered again, stories in hand. One couple was especially excited. They had each prayed separately—and incredibly, God had spoken the same thing to both of them.
Adam was hopeful. He thought of all the life-changing things God could say: “get free from drugs, care for your children, stop the criminal behaviour!”
Instead, they beamed and said, “God told us to register our car!”
Adam was shocked. That was it?
A week later, the couple came back with joy and a sense of victory. “We registered our car! What’s next?”
Can you see what’s happening here? That moment captures something essential about God’s voice. God doesn’t drop a mountain of demands on our shoulders. Like a loving and patient Father, He meets us where we are and invites us forward—one step at a time. Each word He speaks is tailored to our journey. Each step builds trust. Each instruction leads to healing and wholeness.
When we remember God’s character, we discover the Spirit’s voice is not something to fear. Jesus said it himself: “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?” (Matthew 7:9-10). God isn’t looking to trap or punish us. He’s guiding us gently, like the Good Shepherd he is.
Fear comes when we forget the character of God. God’s words are always good, always loving, always for us. As Jesus said, “The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63b). God’s words aren’t burdens to bear—they’re nourishment to feed us.
So yes, God may speak something unexpected. The Spirit may speak something that challenges us. But God will never speak anything unloving. God’s words bring life, not fear. God’s voice always leads us home.
Article supplied with thanks to God Conversations.
About the Author: Tania Harris is a pastor, speaker, author and the founder of God Conversations.
Feature image: Canva
