Listening to God isn’t always easy. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell what He’s saying. Other times, we hear Him clearly but choose to go our own way anyway. I’ve learned the hard way that there’s a real cost to ignoring God’s voice—just like the Israelites in the desert, and just like Jonah in the belly of a whale.
The story of the Israelites is one I’ve come back to again and again. God had freed them from slavery in Egypt and promised them a new land—a place “flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8, NIV). But when they reached the edge of that promise, the people hesitated. They sent spies into the land, and most came back afraid, saying the obstacles were too big. Instead of trusting God, the Israelites grumbled and refused to go forward, even after all the miracles He’d done for them. Numbers 14:22-23 says, “Not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt… will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors.” Because they didn’t listen, they spent forty years wandering the desert—an entire generation missing out on the promise.
Then there’s Jonah—a prophet who literally ran the other way when God called him. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach, but Jonah boarded a ship and sailed in the opposite direction. We know the story: a storm, a terrified crew, Jonah tossed overboard, and then three days in the belly of a huge fish. Jonah 1:3 says, “But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish.” Running from God wasn’t just hard—it was downright miserable. It wasn’t until Jonah cried out to God in the darkest place imaginable that God gave him a second chance.
I can relate more than I’d like to admit. When I was in high school, I felt God calling me into ministry. I knew it deep down. I had accepted Jesus—I believed, I prayed, I was active in church. But when it came to actually following that call, I hesitated. Maybe I was afraid, maybe I just wanted to do things my way, but I chose not to follow up on what God was asking.
Looking back, I can see how that decision marked my life. I won’t sugarcoat it—it’s been a lifetime of hard times. There have been blessings, sure, but there’s also been a deep kind of struggle that comes from not walking in step with God’s direction. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” I wish I’d listened sooner. I know now that God’s plans are always better than mine, even when they’re scary or don’t make sense at first.
The amazing thing, though, is that God never gave up on me. Now, at 70, I’m finally doing what God called me to do all those years ago. It’s taken a lifetime to get here, but I can honestly say there’s a peace and a sense of purpose I never had before. God is gracious—He didn’t give up on me, even when I took the long way around. Every day now feels like a second chance, a reminder that it’s never too late to listen and follow where He leads.
If there’s one thing I’d want someone else to take from my story, it’s this: Listen to God when He speaks. It might not be easy. It might not be what you wanted or expected. But ignoring Him is always harder in the end. The Israelites wandered for forty years. Jonah spent three days in a fish. I spent most of my life wrestling with regret and difficulty. But God is patient, and He still has a purpose and a path, no matter how many detours we take.
If you feel God calling you to something—don’t wait. Don’t run. Trust Him, and listen. You won’t regret it.
CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your patience and Your faithfulness, even when we hesitate or go our own way. Thank You for never giving up on us, and for always calling us back to Your purpose. Help us to listen to Your voice—with open hearts and willing spirits—even when it’s hard or unfamiliar. Remind us that Your plans are good, and that it’s never too late to follow where You lead.
For anyone struggling to hear You or afraid to step out in faith, I pray for courage and clarity. Fill us with Your peace and guide our steps. Teach us to trust You more each day.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.