Hearing God’s Call: Trusting God When You’re Unsure

Hearing God’s call can feel uncertain, even overwhelming. Do you find yourself hesitating—not because you doubt God, but because you don’t know what obedience looks like when the next step isn’t clear? Many women feel the pressure of hearing God’s call in the midst of uncertainty, thinking they need a fully formed plan before they can move.

Honestly, this isn’t completely unique to women, because this is a very human perspective. But it does land a little more sharply for women who must also navigate both unspoken and spoken unaffirming messages. This kind of landscape forms in us the need to know and prove before we can get by-in. 

The culture we live in is very goal-oriented. The world of business and commerce lives by objectives and metrics, and while some of these tools may be helpful in the way we function and lead, they are not the endgame. When we make it about outcomes, we set ourselves up to miss hearing God’s call in the ordinary moments. 

Here’s the thing: Biblical courage is not rooted in having a clear plan or a defined role, but in trusting the God who calls. Scripture tells a different story—one where calling begins with relationship, and trust precedes understanding.

Time and again, God calls ordinary people into extraordinary work without giving them the roadmap first. Isaiah was overwhelmed when God called him; Mary was startled when the angel spoke of a plan beyond comprehension. Both stepped forward, not because the next steps were clear, but because their confidence rested in God’s faithfulness.

Reframing Courage in the Kingdom

I’ve been sitting with this idea: courage in the Kingdom often looks like consent. That word—consent—interrupts many of our long-held assumptions about what courage is supposed to be. We tend to imagine courage as boldness fueled by outcomes, where brave obedience leads to a visible breakthrough. We think of Moses delivering God’s people from Egypt, or Esther risking her life to avert the genocide of her people.

Sometimes courage is framed as a feeling—something we summon or work ourselves into. But Scripture suggests something quieter and deeper. Courage is a choice, yes, but not one we manufacture. It’s not something we put on or power up from within ourselves.

Again and again, Scripture shows that courage often takes the form of consent, availability, and trust. The common thread running through many biblical callings begins with an encounter, a revelation, and an invitation to participate. Naming these patterns isn’t meant to reduce the mystery of God’s movement, but to help us recognize how God still works—and how we can notice and respond when hearing God’s call in our own lives.

God’s call rarely arrives with a five-year plan. More often than not, the invitation begins with the next faithful step. As we reframe courage this way, we begin to see that it isn’t driven by honor, skill, or precision, but by surrender—by placing our trust fully in Almighty God. Ordinary, everyday obedience, compelled by trust, forms in us a kind of courage that testifies not to our strength, but to God’s.

Hearing God’s Call in Ordinary Moments

Scripture tells us, again and again, that God calls ordinary people to participate in His purposes.

Moses carried a complicated past and wrestled with identity, yet he followed God. Rahab wasn’t even part of God’s people, but she responded in faith to what she had heard. Isaiah was deeply aware of his limitations, yet trusted God enough to say yes. Mary—young, unprotected, inexperienced, and overlooked—offered her willing consent without knowing how the story would unfold.

These stories remind us that courage is not built on skill, achievement, or influence, but on consent rooted in trust.

And the witness doesn’t stop there.

Esther may appear, at first glance, like the ideal advocate for justice—positioned, visible, influential. Yet the cost of Queen Vashti’s resistance lingered as a warning. Esther’s yes was not born of confidence, but of costly courage shaped by risk and uncertainty.

Ruth’s courage was quieter still. As a widow with no security and no clear future, it would have made more sense to return home. Instead, she chose faithfulness over logic, trusting God without any guarantee of provision.

And then there is Phoebe. Though Scripture offers only glimpses of her story, Paul’s commendation in Romans 16 reveals her courage. Trusted as a leader, a partner in ministry, and the one entrusted to carry and read his letter, Phoebe stepped forward despite the risks of travel and the danger of proclaiming the gospel in a hostile empire.

The witness of women throughout Scripture reminds us that many, upon hearing God’s call, said yes while still holding fear, questions, and unfinished clarity. Their courage was not loud—but it was faithful.

Hearing God’s Call: The First Yes

Can you recall the first time you sensed hearing God’s call in your own life?

For me, it was on top of a mountain, far from the familiarity of my family’s faith, when I encountered God’s presence in a way I never had before. Overwhelmed by His kindness and grace, I felt compelled to offer my whole life to His purposes. I didn’t know what that would mean, but I was open.

That moment—when I was fifteen—marked the beginning of a journey of discernment and intentionality. There was no clarity around ministry roles or positions, only a growing awareness that I needed to develop my gifts and learn to walk faithfully. What I did have was a fire in my soul that kept drawing me toward the next step.

Wherever you are in your journey, I invite you to remember your first stirring. What conversation did you have with God? What need continues to tug at your heart? Is there a role or invitation you once—or still—felt unready for? Hearing God’s call often begins with a small, quiet invitation before anything feels certain.

Courage often begins with saying yes, even when we’re convinced someone else might be more qualified. I remember the first time I led worship in my earliest ministry role. Fresh out of college and preparing to get married, I stood before the congregation silently praying, Lord, are you sure about this? Do you really trust me with this? That question has followed me into every new season.

Here’s what I keep learning: God doesn’t ask for certainty. He asks for consent—a surrendered heart willing to trust. One way we cultivate courage is by remembering where we began and how faithfully God has walked with us since. Remembering the first yes often rekindles trust for the present one.

Gentle Reflection Space

Our story matters here. The way God speaks, shapes, and invites people forward is never one-size-fits-all. Hearing God’s call doesn’t unfold along a single path, and courage rarely grows on a predictable timeline.

Before we move on, let’s slow down for a moment. Not to evaluate or measure our lives against anyone else’s—but to make space to listen again. To remember, to notice, and to attend to what God may be stirring now, right where you are.

You might begin by holding these questions before God—not as something to solve or rush through, but as an invitation to prayerful attention.

• Where did you first sense God’s invitation to lead?
• What did your “yes” cost you then—and what has it formed in you since?
• What might a faithful, ordinary “yes” look like in this season?

It’s okay to linger here; God is patient with the way we hear His voice. One way to discern the next faithful step when hearing God’s call is to connect with a mentor through Awaken’s mentorship program. A mentor can listen, ask thoughtful questions, and share their own journey of hearing God’s call. Mentoring doesn’t provide all the answers, but it can illuminate patterns, offer encouragement, and help you notice God’s invitations in your ordinary, everyday life. Learn more about Awaken Mentorship.

For those who want a more structured approach, our denominational Directed Study Program offers courses like Discerning God’s Call, My Identity, which can help you explore your gifts, calling, and next steps in a guided learning environment. Explore the Directed Study Program.

Benediction

As you continue hearing God’s call,
may you rest in the truth of who you are in Christ—
clothed in dignity and strength (Proverbs 31:25),
called by name (Isaiah 43:1),
empowered by God’s Spirit (Acts 1:8),
and commissioned to share the Good News (Matthew 28:19–20).

May courage rise quietly in you—
not loud or flashy,
but steady, faithful, and patient.
May God meet you right where you are:
in your willingness today,
in the ordinary, the small, the brave yeses.

And may every step you take,
every yes you whisper,
every moment of trust,
declare His glory in the world.