Hearing God… The number one question I get asked is: “How do I hear from God?” And honestly, today’s conversation with Brandie Barclay is exactly that.
We love God.
We want peace.
We want to hear Him clearly.
But we’re mentally exhausted, emotionally overloaded, constantly distracted, and trying to hear God through nonstop noise.
And honestly, this conversation felt so needed.
This wasn’t some polished interview or perfectly planned conversation.
It felt like two women sitting down and honestly talking about what so many of us are walking through right now:
overwhelm, distraction, pressure, perfectionism, spiritual exhaustion, and learning how to actually walk with God daily instead of just trying harder.
Because I think a lot of overwhelm comes from striving instead of being led by Him.
Hearing God in a Distracted World
One of the biggest things we talked about was how difficult hearing God can feel when our minds are constantly flooded with noise.
Social media.
Comparison.
Pressure.
News.
Opinions.
Scrolling.
Constant input.
Many of us wake up already emotionally overwhelmed before we even spend time with God.
Brandie shared how convicted she felt about constantly reaching for her phone first thing in the morning instead of intentionally spending quiet time with the Lord first.
And honestly, I think so many women can relate to that.
We want to hear God clearly, but we’re consuming everyone else’s voice before we even open our Bible.
Psalm 46:10 says:
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
The world is loud right now.
But God still speaks.
Sometimes we simply need to slow down long enough to hear Him.
Your Feelings Are Not the Truth
One of the most powerful moments in this conversation was when Brandie said:
“Your feelings are not the truth.”
That hit me deeply because so many Christian women are being led by emotions instead of being led by God.
We feel:
- not enough
- too late
- overlooked
- too broken
- behind
- unqualified
- overwhelmed
But feelings are not our identity.
Our identity is found in Christ.
So many women are silently carrying thoughts like:
- I missed my opportunity.
- Someone else is more qualified.
- What I have to offer doesn’t matter.
- I’ll never change.
But those thoughts do not come from God.
Ephesians 2:10 reminds us:
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.”
You are not forgotten.
You are not disqualified.
You are not too late.
You are a daughter of the King.
And once you truly understand your identity in Christ, everything begins to shift.
The Holy Spirit Was Never Meant to Be a Small Part of Your Life
One of the biggest themes throughout this episode was learning how to truly walk with the Holy Spirit daily.
Many Christians understand God the Father.
Many understand Jesus as Savior.
But many believers still do not fully understand the role of the Holy Spirit in everyday life.
And yet Jesus said:
“It is for your good that I am going away… unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you.” — John 16:7
The Holy Spirit is our Helper.
Our Comforter.
Our Guide.
Our Strength.
Brandie shared how everything began to change when she intentionally started inviting the Holy Spirit into every part of her day.
She started praying:
“Holy Spirit, have Your way with my day, my mind, my heart, and my actions.”
Honestly, I think that is a prayer every Christian woman needs to start praying.
Because we were never meant to live this life in our own strength.
God Is More Interested in Your Obedience Than Your Perfection
Another huge part of our conversation was obedience.
Not performance.
Not perfection.
Not building a platform.
Not trying to prove ourselves.
Just obedience.
Brandie shared how difficult writing her book became and how much spiritual warfare she experienced through the process.
And honestly, I think many women assume:
“If God called me to it, it should feel easy.”
But throughout Scripture, God consistently called ordinary people into difficult assignments.
Moses.
Esther.
David.
Mary.
Paul.
None of them felt fully qualified.
Yet God used their faith and obedience powerfully.
One of the most powerful reminders from this conversation was this:
God never asked Moses to part the Red Sea.
He asked him to obey.
God handled the impossible part.
That reminder is so important for women who feel overwhelmed trying to force outcomes, figure everything out, or carry the weight of their calling alone.
Your job is obedience.
God handles the heavy lifting.
The Enemy Wants You Distracted
We also talked honestly about spiritual warfare and how real it is.
The enemy wants Christian women:
- distracted
- discouraged
- emotionally exhausted
- spiritually passive
- constantly comparing
- focused on performance instead of intimacy with God
Because if the enemy can keep you overwhelmed, he can keep you ineffective.
Nehemiah 8:10 says:
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Not temporary happiness.
Not perfect circumstances.
Real joy rooted in God.
Because when your joy is anchored in Him, your strength becomes anchored too.
We Need More Intimacy With God and Less Noise
One of my favorite parts of this entire conversation was simply the reminder that God wants to walk with us daily.
Not just during church.
Not just during crisis.
Not just when we need answers.
Daily.
Psalm 32:8 says:
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
God is not distant.
He is not cold.
He is not waiting for you to become perfect before He speaks to you.
He wants relationship with you.
He wants intimacy with you.
He wants you to know His voice.
About Brandie Barclay’s Book: PowerSoul
During this episode, Brandie also shared about her bestselling book, PowerSoul: Lit From Within — Life Powered by the Holy Spirit.
The book encourages women to stop striving in their own strength and start living empowered by the Holy Spirit through daily intimacy with God, faith, and obedience.
You can learn more about Brandie and her ministry here:
You can also connect with Brandie on Instagram at @brandiebarclay
Hearing God Encouragement
Friend, if you have been overwhelmed lately, spiritually exhausted, emotionally drained, distracted, or struggling with hearing God clearly, I hope this conversation encourages you deeply.
You do not need to strive harder to earn God’s love.
You do not need to become someone else to be used by Him.
You simply need to walk with Him daily.
God is not asking you to have every answer.
He is asking you to trust Him enough to take the next step.
And when you begin living led by the Holy Spirit instead of driven by pressure, perfectionism, and fear, everything starts to change.
You are called.
You are chosen.
You are set apart.
And you were made to live God’s way.
With so much love,
Learn How to Walk With God Daily
Friend, Lay It Down. The striving. The hustle. The trying to figure it all out yourself. There is a better way. Join me for a free 5-minute workshop and learn how to walk with God — not just on Sunday, but every single day. http://kimdolanleto.com/dailywalk
