Learning to Hear God

I was hungry to hear God.

Not just in the general sense, I mean really hear Him. Jesus said He never said anything the Father wasn’t saying, never did anything the Father wasn’t doing. Can you imagine that kind of clarity? That kind of connection? I’ve been starving for that.

So I did what I often do when I want to quiet the noise and lean in: I headed to the sauna. Usually, I throw in my AirPods, play some Amanda Cook or Abbie Gamboa, and try to meet with God while sweating like a person who accidentally hit ‘reply all’. But this time, I couldn’t find my headphones. So I went in quiet.

And it turns out God was in full on “Jehovah-Sneaky” mode.

Another guy was already sitting in the sauna, and we started chatting. Right away, I could tell we had different ways of speaking, especially in the number of F-bombs we choose. There was that quick flicker of oh… this might not go anywhere. But I stayed in the conversation.

The overall experience wasn’t dramatic.
It wasn’t a booming voice from heaven.
It was me… just choosing to be present.

As we talked, I started noticing things. This guy had been through some stuff and clearly didn’t see himself with a lot of love, but shared some recent wins. The coach in me couldn’t help it. I started pointing out the gold in his story. His growth. His grit. His kindness. His uniqueness.

Had to be Jesus - I don’t make a habit of affirming strangers in the sauna.  Just a lot of exposed skin for my comfort when it comes to vulnerability.  But as I shared my perspective, the vibe changed.

He leaned in.
He was more open.
More vulnerable.
And something in me got hungry to understand his story.  It wasn’t really curiosity, it was because it felt incomplete. Like there was a chapter missing and my spirit wanted to bring it into the light.

Eventually, I found out what it was:
He had just gotten out of prison.
We’re talking a few weeks ago!!!

And I couldn’t stop smiling.

Not because of what he did, I don’t even know the details - I don’t really care to be honest. But because I got to be there when someone fresh out of that life heard words of life, identity, and destiny spoken over him without judgment. When he saw I wasn’t going to pull away. When he realized nothing had changed between us, even after I knew where he’d been, that’s when I knew I’d stumbled into a special moment

I’d been begging God to teach me how to hear Him better.
And He did.
Not with volume, but with alignment.

I thought hearing God meant unlocking some mysterious channel. But in this moment, it looked like trusting the subtle nudge to stay in a conversation. Following the wonder that felt more like compassion. Loving someone without an agenda. Watching grace guide the dialogue.

This is the kind of hearing I want more of.

Because when I surrender my own ideas of what it’s supposed to look like. When I give up control, and just try to represent Jesus with every word, every choice, every pause.  That’s when I hear Him clearest. Not because the sky opens, but because my spirit does.

And you know what made it even better?

I got to invite him to church - it just ANY church, but my church where I trusted the welcome he’d receive. I did it with joy. Not hoping he’d get fixed, but bragging about how loved he’d be. I knew that if he showed up and said, “I’ve got a lot of shame from my past,” the response would be, “Yeah, me too! I’m so glad you’re here.”

I was so excited for the gift he would receive, but was also stoked about the breadcrumbs I had received about releasing heaven on earth

I used to think obedience and submission were heavy, even oppressive.
Now I know better.

When I’m fully surrendered, fully listening, fully open…
I don’t feel pressure.
I feel alive.

And I can’t wait for the next sauna appointment with God — headphones or not.