Hearing the Good Shepherd

August 29th, 2025
by Robin Van Hoose

"I pray but God does not answer me."
"I don't know where God is."
"I cannot hear Him anymore."

Have those thoughts ever rolled across your mind or stumbled through your lips?

If this fits your life right now, I’d ask you: Where have you strayed? Granted, we do have seasons when our Teacher is quiet, but there are times when we lack. We lack in INTIMACY, lack in PRAYER, lack of time spent in the WORD, lack of PRAISE or WORSHIP. When we have lack, we stray, and it gets hard to hear His voice.

"My sheep hear my VOICE, I know them, and they follow me.”— John 10:27

Why do the sheep follow the Shepherd? They know His voice, they stay close because they’ve come to trust Him.

“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”— John 10:11
“I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep and am known by mine.” — John 10:14

How do the sheep know the Shepherd’s voice? Just like actual sheep in the field, they hear and recognize their shepherd because they spend a lot of time together. Every day the shepherd is with his sheep, and they know each other.

If you cannot “hear” Him or don't recognize the voice of God, maybe you need to draw closer to the Shepherd.

Think about your relationship with Him and ask—Have you strayed? Are you giving Him your time? Are you in communion with Him—a deep personal fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Do you acknowledge His presence in your life?

He is with you every day. He never leaves you or forsakes you, but we are the ones who sometimes wander off.

We cannot know the Good Shepherd if we do not spend time with Him. I want you to picture the scene you've seen in paintings of the shepherd watching over his sheep. Your Good Shepherd is watching over you just like that. Are you His? Do you belong to Him? If so, you can take heart—His sheep know His voice and recognize Him!

Action Steps

Pick one way to grow intimacy with your Good Shepherd and spend time doing that each day this week.
- Examples: time in the Word, intentional prayer, worship, sitting in His presence—being still.

Intentionally look for His presence throughout your day.
- Keep a note on your phone or a journal of how you noticed that He is with you throughout your day.

Prayer

Lord, I thank You for being our Good Shepherd and for laying Your life down for us. Father, I pray for those of us who might have strayed from You, that we would realize You are always calling us back into relationship with You. Father, I ask in Jesus’ name that hearts and minds will be opened and will feel the nudge of You calling them back into Your love. I pray for the one who may be in a “quiet season,” that they will remember this season will change. Please help us to hear and recognize Your voice and Your presence in our lives, Lord. You are so worthy, Jesus. Thank You for loving us—we give You praise and honor, and it’s in Your holy name we pray. Amen.