Hearing God in the Ordinary

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Hearing God in the Ordinary

We often imagine hearing God as something that happens in deep prayer or during life’s major crossroads—like choosing a spouse or a career. But what if God speaks just as clearly in the grocery aisle, the traffic jam, or while folding laundry?

Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, teaches us that divine direction isn’t reserved for dramatic moments. He wasn’t a priest or prophet—just a carpenter trying to live right. Yet every time God spoke, Joseph heard.

In Matthew 1:20, when the angel said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife”, he listened. When told, “Get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt” (Matthew 2:13, NIV), he obeyed. Later, “Go to the land of Israel” (Matthew 2:20, NIV). No thunder. No burning bush. Just quiet clarity in ordinary life.

What made Joseph different wasn’t his holiness—it was his habit of listening. He didn’t treat hearing God as a rare spiritual event but as part of his daily rhythm. His obedience turned ordinary moments into sacred history.

Maybe God’s voice isn’t hiding—it’s just competing with our noise. The ping of notifications. The rush of deadlines. The hum of worry. But when we quiet our hearts, even in the middle of life’s routine, we might catch the whisper of God guiding us through “everyday” issues: which conversation to have, which decision to delay, how to respond in kindness.

Like Joseph, we don’t need a spotlight to hear heaven. We just need to stay tuned. The voice that guided him still speaks steadily, practically, and is present in the details of our ordinary days.

May God’s voice be clearer to you today.