136 | God Is Still Speaking—But Are You Asking the Right Questions?

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog

What if the distance you feel isn’t failure, but longing calling you back to attention? In this episode, we unpack a kinder way to rekindle intimacy with God—one that trades pressure for presence and turns small daily moments into places of real guidance. I share how the biblical idea of hearing, akouō (ἀκούω), from a simple Greek word study, invites responsive listening rather than chasing louder signals, and why so many of us misread subtle peace, a lingering verse, or a quiet check in the spirit as “nothing.” We’ll talk about how overload, not rebellion, often mutes discernment, and how restoring margin can make prayer feel alive again with fresh biblical encouragement.

To make that shift practical, we look at the nervous system and why stillness can feel unsafe when life runs hot and our emotions are already stretched thin. You’ll learn how scent reaches the limbic system directly and how aromatherapy—using essential oils as a calming sensory anchor—can pair beautifully with Scripture, devotions, and simple reflection to cue safety, soften hurry, and open space to notice God’s steady presence. This isn’t a shortcut or a gimmick; it’s a gentle, neurological assist that supports classic disciplines like meditation, journaling, and silence.

Along the way, I share journal prompts that help you reframe the day from “Why can’t I hear God?” to “Where might God be present right now?”—a small pivot that changes the texture of everything. We’ll also map out a sustainable rhythm for focus and clarity, from memory verses and word studies to daily devotionals and sensory cues. If you’re craving peace, direction, or a fresh way to listen without adding pressure, this conversation will help you slow down, notice more, and respond with confidence. Share it with someone who needs a deep breath and a kind reminder: God has not moved. If it resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and tell me—where did you notice God today?

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Also available: 

Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour: PaulaBehrens.com/coaching1

The Story of Oils in Scripture | Class: PaulaBehrens.com/oils-in-scripture

Healing Oils of the Bible | Course: PaulaBehrens.com/healing-oils 

Weekly Biblical Encouragement Tips: PaulaBehrens.com/insider-list

Free Revelation (Part 1) printable study: PaulaBehrens.com/free-revelation-1

Bold Faith Bundle for new Christians | Printables: PaulaBehrens.com/bold-faith

In the Word — 24 free messages:  PaulaBehrens.com/in-the-word

Free 15-Minute Discovery Consult: PaulaBehrens.com/#discoverycall

Faith Membership Club | Through-the-Bible: PaulaBehrens.com/bible

The Store: PaulaBehrens.com/store

Transcript

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Longing For Lost Closeness

Paula Behrens 0:00

Do you remember that closeness you once felt with God, that deep, quiet assurance that He was near, guiding you, speaking to you, walking with you through ordinary moments, before life became so full, before your days felt noisy and your spiritual life started to feel more like a routine than a relationship? That time when God's presence felt woven into the fabric of your everyday life, when you didn't have to strain to sense him, when you noticed him naturally, and prayer flowed easily, when scripture came alive and you felt softly guided instead of relentlessly driven? Well, that closeness did not come from perfection, it came from attentiveness before schedules crowded your margins, responsibilities multiplied, and your spiritual life became something you fit in rather than something you lived from. And if you are honest, maybe you've missed that version of your faith, not because you've walked away from God, but because life has layered itself on top of your attention. The layers are not sinful, they are understandable. Work, family, ministry, caring for others, keeping up, holding it all together. If you've ever found yourself wondering, why can't I hear God like I used to, or am I doing something wrong? I want you to stay with me today because those questions are not signs of failure. They are signs of longing. And longing is often the doorway back to intimacy with God.

Prompt Cards, Learning to Listen, Not Strive

Paula Behrens 1:27

And I especially want you to listen all the way to the end because I'm going to invite you to receive my free prompt cards that are designed to help you learn to listen, pause, and ask better questions so you can begin recognizing God's voice again in your everyday life. This episode is not about striving harder, adding more spiritual pressure, or fixing yourself. It's about remembering how to listen. It's about gently retraining your heart and your attention. It's about rediscovering the quiet confidence that God is already present and already speaking, even if you feel a little out of practice hearing him.

Paula Behrens 2:06

In my personal faith walk, I've wrestled with the challenge of carving out consistent time for God. Some days, the line blurred between hearing his voice and my own thoughts echoing back at me. But through life's ups and downs, I've discovered an amazing truth. Spiritual disciplines paired with the God-given gift of natural aromas or what we call essential oils today and create a profound space for clarity and connection. They help us slow down and tune in to God's quiet whispers. Let's talk about what this podcast has to offer. Each week, we delve into meaningful scripture, highlighting memory verses enriched with Greek word studies. If your spirit needs refreshing, you can start with daily devotionals that accompany your morning prayer, and you'll find that many of our episodes are infused with essential oil tips to enhance your focus so you can hear God's voice more clearly as you seek to clarify your unique calling.

Invitation to Aroma Freedom

Paula Behrens 3:08

Hey friend, I want to personally invite you to check out our faith coaching service. If you've been feeling spiritually dry, this is your opportunity to reignite your love for time with God. It isn't just another program, it's a deeply intentional one-on-one session focused on Christian empowerment where you'll experience a rhythm that truly fits your life, all while engaging your senses through aroma therapy devotions. Before our coaching call, you'll receive a sampler to use during our online session enhancing this fun spiritual journey in ways that will help you consistently connect with God. We'll partner together to design a peaceful Christ-centered rhythm that helps you breathe again spiritually and emotionally. You'll walk away with clarity, focus, and a renewed connection to the Holy Spirit. Go right now to PaulaBehrens.com /coaching to book your session. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H R E N S .com /coaching (no spaces). It's time to stop trying to figure it out alone and start connecting with God in a way that finally feels like refreshment for your soul. Check the show notes to save your spot while the peace reset is still on the table. All right, it's time to get started. Grab your Bible, dust off your journal, and cozy up to your favorite beverage and let's dive in.

Show Overview And Weekly Rhythm

Paula Behrens 4:32

Hey friend, let me begin by saying something plainly, gently, and clearly. God has not moved. You've not lost his favor, and you've not failed spiritually. That truth alone can feel like a deep exhale because many carry a quiet fear that their feelings of spiritual disconnect means something is wrong with them. Or somehow, without realizing it, they've drifted too far. But the story of Scripture tells us something very different about God's heart. Over and over we see a God who remains near even when his people feel scattered. A God who draws close, not only when faith feels strong, but when it feels fragile. A God who does not withdraw because his people are weary.

Not a Loss of Faith, but of Margin

Paula Behrens 5:17

What has happened for many faithful Christians is not a loss of faith, but a loss of margin. Life becomes busy, responsibilities multiply, expectations pile up, and without realizing it, we move from living attentively with God to living reactively for God. We keep doing good things, we keep serving, we keep showing up, we keep caring deeply, but the pace begins to shape us. Prayer becomes shorter, scripture becomes familiar but distant. Silence becomes uncomfortable. And somewhere along the way, we stop noticing. And when we stop noticing, we assume God has gone quiet. Scripture consistently reveals a God who is steady, faithful, and near. Hearing God is not about volume, it's about attention. The problem is not that God has stopped speaking, the problem is that we have been trained by modern life to move too fast to recognize Him. We skim instead of linger, we react instead of reflect, we fill every quiet moment. This is why learning to pause and ask the right questions matters so deeply. Questions that will slow us down enough to notice what has been present all along.

Akouō (ἀκούω): Hearing That Responds

Paula Behrens 6:38

In the New Testament, one of the primary Greek words used for hearing is akouō (ἀκούω). At first glance, it seems straightforward. It means to hear, but in biblical Greek, the word akouō (ἀκούω) carries a much richer meaning that speaks directly to our topic today. It doesn't describe passive listening, it describes attentive hearing that leads to understanding and responding. When Jesus says, He who has ears to hear, let him listen, he is not speaking about sound waves reaching the ear. He's speaking about a heart that is open, receptive, and willing. In many passages, akouō (ἀκούω) is closely connected to obedience, not obedience rooted in fear or obligation, but obedience as alignment. It is the kind of hearing that allows God's voice to shape how we live, how we choose, and how we move forward. When you truly hear God, something in you responds. Sometimes the response is action, sometimes it is rest. Sometimes it's a shift in perspective, sometimes it is simply peace. This matters because many women believe they cannot hear God when in reality they are hearing him often, but dismissing it because it doesn't sound dramatic or mystical enough. A scripture that lingers in your mind, a phrase that stands out unexpectedly, a quiet check in your spirit, a sense of assurance that settles your heart. Biblical hearing is relational, it is interactive, and like any relationship, it deepens with time, trust, and repeated moments of attention.

Why We Feel Spiritually Dry

Paula Behrens 8:22

Spiritual dryness does not usually come from rebellion. It normally comes from overload. This distinction matters deeply. When life demands constant output, your inner life can begin to feel thin. When your nervous system is constantly activated, your brain prioritizes survival, productivity, and problem solving. It stays alert, it scans for what needs attention next, and in that state, it becomes very difficult to access stillness, reflection, and discernment. Even prayer can begin to feel like a chore. Scripture can feel harder to absorb. Silence can feel unsettling instead of restorative. This is where compassion matters. Many Christians are not spiritually dry because they lack devotion. They are spiritually tired because they are carrying too much without enough space to process. And God's voice is often subtle. It is described as gentle, it is associated with peace, and stillness feels unsafe to the nervous system that has been trained to stay on high alert.

How Aroma Helps the Body Listen

Paula Behrens 9:30

This is where something beautifully practical comes in, something God designed into your body. Aroma is processed in the brain differently than sight or sound. When you inhale an aroma, it travels directly to the limbic system, the part of your brain responsible for emotion, memory, and safety. It bypasses the analytical filter. That means aroma can help your body settle before your mind even tries to figure something out. The aroma freedom technique works by pairing a calming scent with intentional reflection and gentle questioning. Over time, your body begins to associate that aroma with safety, presence, and stillness. It becomes a signal. It tells your nervous system it's okay to slow down now. When your body feels safe, your heart becomes more receptive. When your heart is receptive, your spiritual hearing sharpens. This is not mystical. It's neurological. And it's a gift that supports spiritual practices rather than replacing them.

God Meets Us in the Ordinary

Paula Behrens 10:36

One of the most freeing truths I want to remind you of today is this God is not waiting for you to get your quiet time perfect. He is already meeting you in the ordinary moments. He meets you in a timely text from a friend, in scripture that suddenly stands out, in a moment of clarity while folding laundry or walking outside, in a quiet reassurance that rises unexpectedly. But to notice these moments, we must learn to ask better questions. Instead of asking, why do I feel disconnected? We begin asking, Where might God already be present right now? That small shift changes everything. It moves us from striving to noticing, from self-judgment to curiosity.

The Power of Scripture-Based Questions

Paula Behrens 11:22

Jesus asked questions constantly, not because he lacked information, but because questions open the heart. Questions slow us down, they create space, they help us reflect rather than react. They gently turn our attention toward what matters most. The seven prompt cards I created are not answers, they are invitations. Each one is rooted in scripture and designed to gently turn your attention toward God's activity in your life. They help train your heart to listen. I don't want to give them all away here because part of the power is in experiencing them yourself. But I do want to invite you right here in the middle of listening to receive them free. You can go to PaulaBehrens.com /prompt -cards to download them. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S .com /prompt -cards (no spaces). Use them during your quiet time, with your morning coffee or in moments when you feel spiritually scattered and need to maybe recalibrate a little. You know, small steps add up. And doable practices lead to lasting transformation.

Relearning Childlike Listening

Paula Behrens 12:42

Jesus said that unless we become like little children, we cannot enter the kingdom of God. Now think about that for a moment. Children listen differently than adults. They are curious, they are present, they notice what others overlook. These prompt cards help reawaken that childlike attentiveness. They are not about doing more, they are about noticing more. And noticing is where intimacy with God grows. I want to speak this gently over you. God is not frustrated with you. He is patient. He delights in every small turning of your heart toward Him. Learning to hear God again is not a switch you flip. It's a relationship you tend, and you do not have to do it alone.

Free 15-Minute Discovery Call Invitatiion

Paula Behrens 13:35

If you find yourself longing for clarity, peace, or a sense of direction in this season of life, I want to invite you into something simple and supportive. I want to invite you to book a free 15-minute discovery call with me. It's a private, spirit-led one-on-one conversation designed to help you name what is on your heart, notice what God may be inviting you into right now, and discern what kind of support would feel most helpful for you in this season. There's no pressure, just space, prayerful listening, and gentle guidance. If that resonates with you, go right now to paulabehrens.com #DiscoveryCall. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S .com #DiscoveryCall (no spaces). Remember this. God is closer than you think. His voice is quieter than the world. But your ears can be trained to hear him clearly again.

Closing Thoughts and Next Steps

Paula Behrens 14:42

Thank you for tuning in today. And remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say no to things that don't serve you well, like that third piece of cake at the church potluck. If you were blessed by this episode, be sure to share it with a friend and leave a review so that we can reach even more listeners like you. Check the show notes for all the links. Join us next week as we continue to discover how to live on purpose in Christ. Until then, keep leaning into Him and walking in His wisdom. See you next time.